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Since 2001, Sharsheret (Hebrew for chain) has reached out to young Jewish women in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer or at high risk of developing breast cancer by targeting Jewish organizations, synagogues, and health care professionals with resource information and materials.  From recent outreach efforts we have learned that many young adults today are deeply touched by the high incidence of breast cancer in the Jewish community as well as by the breast cancers of their own mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and cousins.  Teenagers and college students are seeking information about breast cancer and guidance about ways they can protect themselves and others in the Jewish community.  Through the Sharsheret on Campus project students:

• Participate in Sharsheret health fairs and seminars on campus and learn about breast health, family medical history, appropriate breast cancer screening methods for younger women, and the importance of early detection;

• Receive tailored breast health and breast cancer educational resource materials to which they can relate; and

• Share Sharsheret breast cancer awareness promotional items with other students on campus to encourage their participation in this important outreach effort.

With support from JChoice, Sharsheret on Campus will be able to continue and expand this vital outreach to thousands of Jewish students across the country, empower them to raise breast cancer awareness amongst their peers, and educate them about breast health and the importance of early detection.

The Link Program

o   Peer Support Network, connecting women newly diagnosed or at high risk of developing breast cancer with others who share similar diagnoses and experiences;

o   Embrace, supporting women living with advanced breast cancer;

o   Empower, addressing the concerns of women without partners facing breast cancer;

o   Genetics for Life, focusing on hereditary breast cancer;

o   Family Focus, providing resources and answering questions of caregivers and family members.

Education and Outreach Programs

o   Sharsheret on Campus, outreach to high school and college students;

o   Facing Breast Cancer as a Jewish Woman educational resource booklet series;

o   Sharsheret Supports, a national model for local support groups;

o   Health Care Symposia on issues unique to younger women facing breast cancer;

o   National Volunteer Program, Sharsheret’s mission furthered through representatives and programs across the country.

o   Busy Box, for young parents facing breast cancer;

o   Best Face Forward, to address the cosmetic side effects of treatment.

Quality of Life Programs

Sharsheret on Campus health fairs and seminars are coordinated by student leaders with guidance from Sharsheret’s Project Manager.  These programs educate Jewish teens about the importance of breast health, early detection, breast cancer awareness, and support for young women facing breast cancer and their families.  At the events, local Sharsheret representatives will review breast self exam techniques on breast models and breast cancer survivors will share their personal stories.  Additionally, Sharsheret will provide hundreds of free educational and resource materials to distribute to students throughout the academic year. 

Our students are our future – our future health care professionals, our future community leaders, our future parents, and unfortunately, our future generation of women to be diagnosed with breast cancer.  With the vital education and information provided through the Sharsheret on Campus program, Sharsheret supports young Jewish women facing breast cancer today so they can look forward to a healthy future.

Sharsheret on Campus is empowering the young Jewish women of the next generation by training young women to act as breast cancer awareness advocates - educating peers about breast care and early detection - at college campuses, high schools, Jewish youth group organizations and beyond. 

Sharsheret has been fortunate to experience success from the Sharsheret on Campus program.  This past year, the organization received a call for support from a Jewish woman living in Mexico who was newly diagnosed with breast cancer.  This woman explained that had never heard of the organization and just learned about Sharsheret from her niece, a recent AEPhi sorority alum, now living in Florida.  Sharsheret was able to provide this caller with vital support and the comfort she needed during her breast cancer treatments.   

Working closely with Sharsheret’s Project Manager, students of all ages are beginning to coordinate and participate in breast cancer awareness events nationwide.  Their enthusiasm in partnering with Sharsheret to educate their peers about breast care, appropriate breast cancer screening methods, and Sharsheret national programs is contagious and evident in the following student feedback we have received:

“We are making a big impact on campus raising awareness about breast cancer and Sharsheret.” 

-Student at University of Tulane

“What our organization (AEPhi) found so great, amongst all the positive things Sharsheret does, is that it acts as a sisterhood of support for those going through breast cancer.  Like a sisterhood, it provides people with comfort, motivation, and strength.”

-Student at University of Central Florida

While most breast cancer organizations offer a myriad of support programs to women living with breast cancer, Sharsheret on Campus is unique that it targets a very young population and a group that has not yet developed breast cancer.  Many young adults today are deeply touched by the high incidence of breast cancer in the Jewish community as well as by the breast cancers of their own mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and cousins. 

Among the thousands of Jewish students on campus, there is a strong demand for breast cancer education and support even to those who are undiagnosed.  This sense of urgency is specifically unique for young Jewish adults due to the recent findings that 1 in 40 Jewish women of Ashkenazi descent carries a breast cancer gene mutation (BRCA), compared to 1 in 345 in the general population and the fact that the mutation can be passed on to offspring from both the mother and the father.  For those who carry a BRCA gene mutation, the likelihood of developing breast cancer may be as high as 82%.  Young Jewish women are struggling to understand the impact of these high breast cancer statistics on their own health.  They want to know if they should be screening for breast cancer, even though mammograms are not recommended for women under 40.  They want to understand more about genetic testing and counseling for women who are young.  Young women whose mothers were diagnosed with breast cancer are frightened that they are destined to develop breast cancer and want to learn about measures they can take to avoid this disease and protect their own futures.  Young men whose mothers battled breast cancer are concerned about passing the gene on to the next generation. 

As the only national organization dedicated to addressing the unique needs of young Jewish women facing breast cancer, Sharsheret is prepared to address these difficult issues.

When Sarah tested positive for the BRCA1 breast cancer gene five years ago, she knew that having a bilateral mastectomy might be her best option to save her life and protect her future.  She had seen her own mother suffer from breast cancer and die at the devastatingly young age of 45.  Additionally, her aunt passed away from breast cancer at the age of 49.  With Sharsheret’s help, Sarah did not have to face these life- altering decisions alone. 

Through Sharsheret, Sarah discovered a network of young Jewish women who had tested positive for the same gene, had gone through the same prophylactic double mastectomy procedure, and had made it through the recovery period with young children at their sides.  Through Sharsheret, Sarah found valuable genetic counseling and personal connections, as she went through some of the most challenging times of her young life. 

“It’s a Godsend.  It’s really revolutionizing women’s ability to face breast cancer and to fight it - it’s incredible.  My experience would not have been nearly as easy if I hadn’t had Sharsheret in my life,” said Sarah, now 38, who recently underwent chemotherapy after doctors found cancerous tissue in her breast.  “Cancer is still a bit of an uncomfortable subject among close-knit Jewish circles, a phenomenon that Sharsheret aims to improve.”

Mitzvah project ideas for students:

Go for the Goal - Exercise your love of sports and competitive edge to raise awareness about breast cancer.  Schedule a basketball or hockey tournament and solicit sponsors to support your game.  Sponsors can donate based on the number of baskets hit and goals made.  Distribute breast cancer awareness items and Sharsheret information materials to all players, sponsors, and fans.

Create and Sell - Use your creative and artistic abilities to create and sell crafts such as jewelry, greeting cards, t-shirts, and hats.  The proceeds earned from sales can be donated to Sharsheret in honor of your Bat/Bar Mitzvah.  

Spread the Word - Help spread the word about Sharsheret so that Sharsheret can help more women.  Distribute Sharsheret brochures in your community to local doctors’ offices, hospitals, cancer centers, breast cancer organizations, women’s organizations, Jewish organizations, community centers, and wigmakers.  We will provide Sharsheret brochures and brochure holders for distribution.

Babysitting and Tutoring Network - Organize a network of babysitters and tutors available to help younger children and families in your neighborhood.  A portion of the proceeds raised from the network can be donated to Sharsheret.

Organize Pledge Activities - Organize community activities such as bowl-a-thons, walks or races, and fashion shows.  Sharsheret can generate Pledge Forms for your special activity and help you plan your big event.  Each year hundreds of students make a difference as they join Team Sharsheret at the NYC Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a monumental breast cancer awareness and fundraising event.  With more than 700 women, men, and children, Team Sharsheret NYC has won the award for the largest Race Team for 3 consecutive years!  Florida, California, Washington, DC, and Minnesota also feature Team Sharsheret at their local Races.

Volunteer - Sharsheret’s office is located in Teaneck, New Jersey.  If you live in the area, you may set aside hours to volunteer in the office and assist the staff in coordinating Sharsheret’s programs and upcoming events.  For those who prefer to provide assistance from home, Sharsheret will prepare projects such as mailings or assembling information on our programs and services to be sent to women facing breast cancer, health care professionals, and Jewish organizations nationwide, which can be delivered to our office upon completion. 

Collect Toys and Make-Up for Sharsheret’s Quality of Life Programs -Organize toy drives or make-up collections to enhance two important Sharsheret programs: The Busy Box and Best Face Forward programs mailed to young women with breast cancer.  Each Busy Box includes activities and toys for young children with a parent facing breast cancer.  The Best Face Forward kit contains cosmetics products to help young women address the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.