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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a group from Palm Beach Gardens strives to warn families about a rare, mutated gene that affects women in the Jewish community.
The mutated BRCA gene is present in one in every 400 women in the United States, making them more vulnerable to breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
However, in Jewish women, the mutated gene is found in 10 times the rate of the general population.
Lisa Winer, a local teacher, does not usually speak openly about this experience.
"But I think the time has come," she told WPTV in an interview on Tuesday.
The BRCA1 gene is found in its Jewish lineage, making it more susceptible to breast cancer and ovarian cancer. She had for the first time the idea of being tested more than 15 years ago.
"Many of my family members died when I was very young," she said. "We did not know anything about the BRCA 1 gene at that time."
Over the years, she was too scared to get tested.
"My doctor told me," Lisa, every time you come here, you ask me if I will tell you if you will live or die, "she said.
That's why a local group – Gardens Jewish Experience – is working to help other women like Winer.
"In the Ashenaz Jewish community, this affects one in 40 women," said Bruchy Cheplowitz, co-director of The Gardens Jewish Experience.
This month, the Cheplowitz group organized events and partnered with local doctors to provide screening and information on BRCA genes to women.
"And with that knowledge … they can do something about it," she said.
Fifteen years ago, Diner decided to use preventive surgery to protect herself.
"It's one in 50 chance if it's passed on to you," she said. I was told that I had an 85% chance of developing breast cancer.
The group hopes that more women will contact them to connect to the right resources to get tested for the mutated BRCA gene.
"We want to get the message across, we want to get the information out," Cheplowitz said.
"I might have been scared and waited for this diagnosis … or I could have taken my life," said Winer.
There is a support group for Jewish women called Sharsheret, which provides free resources, education and support to women in need.
If you need assistance, contact the Gardens Jewish Experience by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or visit www.gardensje.com.
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