BRCA
Ahava Emunah’s Story: Living with Love and Faith
(1/7) “I Knew” “It was July 2012, and I had been feeling unwell. I was going back and forth to…
Pink Challah, Cancer and Self-Care
February was an intense time on The Layers Project Magazine. When I began this issue, I knew that BRCA genetic…
Donna’s Story: BRCA Diagnosis, A Hidden Blessing
This profile is sponsored in partnership with Sharsheret. Sharsheret is a national not-for-profit organization supporting young Jewish women and their…
I Stumbled Upon my BRCA+ Results, And It Saved My Life.
Back in 2013, I took a direct-to-consumer DNA test, with the intention of connecting to relatives. At the time, the…
Sisters: Sharing Loss, BRCA Fears, and the Future
LPM: Tell us about your mom. Adina: My mom was a beacon of beauty both inside and out. She had…
Is the Jewish Community Ready to Confront its Cancer Risk?
When her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Sarah was too young to understand. Now, at age 32, she’s already…
Filled with Emptiness: Grieving After a Mastectomy or Hysterectomy
This essay is based on the collective experiences of women I have counseled over the years. Dear Sister, You cannot…
My Mother Died From Breast Cancer, But I Refuse To Live In Fear
Cancer is a scary word. Everyone knows of someone who has died of cancer. Cancer conjures up terrifying images of…
Genetic Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2: To Test Or Not To Test?
When we discuss testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2, it means that a blood sample will be collected to test if…
Amy’s Story: Making Choices For Me
(1/6) “The Inevitability of My Genetics” “I grew up in a household where my mother was a cancer survivor. As…
From IVF Coordinator to Patient: Experiencing My Husband’s BRCA Diagnosis
When I graduated Yeshiva University in 2015, I anticipated my first job out of college would be pretty straightforward: first…
Put to the Test: Why We Need to Talk About BRCA Genes
If there was a bingo board listing sensitive issues in the Jewish community today, the conversation about BRCA mutations would…