Sharsheret (organization)
Coordinates: 40°53′30″N 74°00′15″W / 40.891574°N 74.004164°W
| Motto | "Linking Young Jewish Women in Their Fight Against Breast Cancer" |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2001 |
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose | Social support |
| Location | |
Region served | United States of America |
Director of Operations | Elana Silber |
Staff | <10 |
Volunteers | >1000 |
| Website | http://www.sharsheret.org/ |
Sharsheret, Hebrew for “chain,” is a national not-for-profit organization intended to support young Jewish women with breast cancer, or a genetic predisposition to it, and their families.
History
Founding
Sharsheret was founded in November 2001 by Rochelle Shoretz (died 2015), a former law clerk to United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as a breast cancer organization sensitive to the cultural needs of young Jewish women and families after her own diagnosis at age 28.
According to its 2001 assessment of the breast cancer needs of young women, "Young women need to be able to see and talk to young survivors in order to believe it's possible to survive breast cancer and they are not alone." Information provided to young women "should be targeted; women need to perceive information as personally relevant to women in their age group and culture."
The concerns of pre-menopausal women facing breast cancer are unique. Young women are dating, marrying, having children, and raising children. Their cancers tend to be more aggressive, may result in early menopause, and are associated with higher mortality rates, yet breast cancer research studies often fail to include pre-menopausal women. Young Jewish women face additional concerns, including the increased genetic risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer in families of Ashkenazi/Eastern European descent (1 in 40 Jews carries a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene that can trigger these cancers), the role of Jewish spirituality in daily life with cancer and in healing, and cultural norms surrounding dating, marriage, and fertility.
Since Sharsheret’s founding in 2001, it has responded to more than 40,000 breast cancer inquiries, involved more than 3,800 peer supporters, and presented over 250 educational programs nationwide. Sharsheret supports young Jewish women and families facing breast cancer at every stage—before, during, and after diagnosis. Sharsheret helps women and families connect to their community in the way that feels most comfortable, taking into consideration their stage of life, diagnosis, or treatment, as well as their connection to Judaism. It also provide educational resources, offer specialized support to those facing ovarian cancer or at high risk of developing cancer, and create programs for women and families to improve their quality of life. All of Sharsheret’s programs are open to all women and men.
In recognition of Sharsheret’s important contributions to women’s health, Sharsheret was named a recipient of the New York State Innovation in Breast Cancer Early Detection and Research Award, and selected as a member of the Livestrong Young Adult Alliance. In 2010, Rochelle was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That same year, recognizing the need for specific support for those facing ovarian cancer, Sharsheret launched a national ovarian cancer program.
Sharsheret is one of Alpha Epsilon Phi's national philanthropies.
Services and programming
Sharsheret offers the following national programs:
The Link Program
- Peer Support Network, connecting women newly diagnosed or at high risk of developing breast cancer one-on-one with others who share similar diagnoses and experiences
- EmbraceTM, supporting women living with advanced breast cancer
- Genetics for Life®, addressing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
- Thriving Again®, providing individualized support, education, and survivorship plans for young breast cancer survivors
- Busy Box®, for young parents facing breast cancer
- Best Face Forward®, addressing the cosmetic side effects of treatment
- Family Focus®, providing resources and support for caregivers and family members
- Ovarian Cancer Program, tailored resources and support for young Jewish women and families facing ovarian cancer
- Sharsheret SupportsTM, developing local support groups and programs
Education and Outreach Programs
- Health Care Symposia, on issues unique to younger women facing breast cancer
- Sharsheret on Campus, outreach and education to students on campus
- Sharsheret Educational Resource Booklet Series, culturally-relevant publications for Jewish women and their families and healthcare professionals
Awards
Rochelle Shoretz, the founder of Sharsheret, was invited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to represent Sharsheret on an Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women (ACBCYW). The ACBCYW web site describes this committee as "a federal advisory committee established by the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, section 10413 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148). The EARLY Act authorizes CDC to develop initiatives to increase knowledge of breast health and breast cancer among women, particularly among those under the age of 40 and those at heightened risk for developing the disease.
The Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women will assist CDC in developing evidence-based approaches to advance understanding and awareness of breast cancer among young women through prevention research, public and health professional education and awareness activities, and emerging prevention strategies."