Each summer I volunteer to serve on the faculty of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Olin Sang Ruby Institute Camp for two weeks. In November of 2018, I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, which made going to camp unpredictable for the coming summer. As I spoke with my… Continue reading
Improving lives and saving lives is a tag line of Sharsheret. During my summer internship at this amazing organization I have had the privilege of watching this come true on a daily basis. Growing up in Teaneck, Sharsheret was always a household name and I have previously… Continue reading
Breast cancer treatment seems to be full of unexpected “surprises,” and one high on that list is “cording” (or Axillary Webbing Syndrome, if you want to be fancy). The symptoms are best described as a really specific sensation of pulling, the kind you can pinpoint and… Continue reading
I am a physical therapist who primarily helps women rehab from breast cancer diagnosis. Last week, two separate women made a very similar comment that prompted this blog post. Both had recently undergone reconstructive breast surgery and now have their implants, and when they… Continue reading
Throughout every stage of post-reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation is a valuable tool to maximize outcomes. Mastectomy and other types of breast surgeries, can result in impaired function of the upper extremities. Breast Rehabilitation can be integral during the healing… Continue reading
Many women facing breast cancer have questions about types of breast reconstruction – “What type is best for me What choices do I have” Breast reconstruction takes two forms. The first type, which is known as partial breast reconstruction, can be performed after… Continue reading
Mindfulness: A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment. My cancer diagnosis, and the months and years that followed, have taught me the incredible value of mindfulness, particularly for combating the emotional roller coaster of cancer treatment… Continue reading
In the blink of an eye, your world is turned upside down. You barely have time to digest the diagnosis before you are inundated with more information and reality than you can process. Treatments begin and a cascade of challenges follow for you and those who love and care for… Continue reading
Are you being exposed to toxins that may increase your risk of breast cancer Chemicals found in personal care products have been shown in studies to mimic estrogen and may be associated with breast cancer. During vulnerable lifespan stages such as in-utero, infancy,… Continue reading
It’s June which means it’s Father’s Day and Men’s Health Month. My dad and I had a connection no child and parent should ever have. In May of 2010 my life was changed forever when I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in my right breast. Shock and… Continue reading
The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer within their reproductive years is growing. Chemotherapy for breast cancer can have an adverse effect on a woman’s ability to have children. Fertility preservation means preserving the ability of a woman or a couple to start… Continue reading
Just five years ago, the idea that one could live longer and better with ovarian cancer wasn’t conceivable for most women who had just been told they had late-stage ovarian cancer. Their diagnoses, most likely, would have come with a suggestion to get their affairs in… Continue reading
Last August I turned 50, and despite my loud and proud declarations that “50 is the new 35!”, my body seems firmly rooted in its new half-century identity. In fact, it seems to have been preparing for this milestone birthday for a few years, starting with my ovaries. As we… Continue reading
Our mother, Hindy Weinstock a”h, passed away in August 2002, just months after Sharsheret was founded. When she was first diagnosed 5 years earlier, at the age of 43, close friends and family were hers and our only support system. Battling cancer, juggling a job, and raising… Continue reading
On Thursday night, March 28th 2019, Chabad of Binghamton hosted their annual Fashion For A Cure event. This year I was privileged to be a part of the planning committee along with eight other girls and the Rebbetzin of Chabad, Rivky Slonim. Together we met weekly planning all of… Continue reading
As we read the story of Exodus this Passover, there are so many themes which fully resonate today, and also correlate when thinking about loved ones who are fighting or may have already lost their battle with Cancer. Foreign oppression and the longing for freedom; we were… Continue reading
My connection to Sharsheret began the week before my surgery. Some of my 6th grade students hosted a bake sale as part of their joint bat mitzvah project to benefit Sharsheret. They didn’t know that I was newly diagnosed and still healing from my initial biopsies. I was… Continue reading
Spring is around the corner and we welcome the revitalization of budding leaves, flowers and grass. During this time of year we also encounter exposure to toxic pesticides and weed killers which are applied for lawn and garden care and insect control. Over the past… Continue reading
I have been a dedicated, caring physician for over 30 years. My grandfathers were both physicians. It has been my calling. I didn’t need to get cancer to empathize with my patients. It is what I have always done. Now, I am also a woman who has had breast and ovarian cancer and… Continue reading
What have you inherited from your mother other than her big brown eyes, curly hair, and petite frame Genetics is the field of science that looks at how traits like these, and others, are passed down from parents to children through their genes. “Our genes can also affect… Continue reading
