First Annual Symposium on Breast Health for Ashkenazi Jewish Women

White Plains Hospital has partnered with Temple Israel Center of White Plains and several local synagogues, day schools, and Jewish organizations in Westchester to host an informational program, “Know Our Genes: First Annual Symposium on Breast Health for Ashkenazi Jewish Women” on Sunday morning, June 8th at Temple Israel Center at 280 Old Mamaroneck Road in White Plains. The program was created through the collaboration of Dan Costin, M.D., F.A.C.P, Co-Medical Director of the White Plains Hospital Cancer Program and Nancy Parkes, Education Director of Temple Israel Center. Their goal was to create a conference to inform and to empower women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent to be proactive in making important decisions about their health by equipping women with up to date medical information on breast cancer genetics, risk factors, screening, and prevention.

The morning will begin with registration at 8:30 am followed by the featured presentations starting at 9:00 am. The lectures will include: Myths and Facts about Breast Cancer; Cancer Risk in Jews: Why Us?; The Genetic Counseling Session; Breast Cancer Screening in High Risk Women; and “Why I Got Tested for BRCA.” The highlighted talks will be followed by interactive breakout sessions on a variety of topics related to breast health. A faculty of nationally recognized leaders in the field has been assembled including Doctors Mark Gordon, Karen Green, Caren Greenstein, Susan Klugman, Sunny Mitchell, Sara Sadan, and Randy Stevens. All participants are invited to ask questions of the speakers before the morning concludes promptly at 11:45am.

Women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are at high risk for breast cancer, in part related to the high prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. These mutations are rare in the general population with BRCA1 found in only one of 400 individuals screened and BRCA2 found in only one of 800 people screened. According to the National Cancer Institute, one in 40 women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are found to have either BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Up to 10% of Ashkenazi Jewish women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are found to have a BRCA mutation. Genetic screening can identify the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and enable women to make informed choices about their breast health at an early stage.

Reservations for the symposium are required as seating is limited. Call (914) 948-2800, ext. 143, or email Nancy Parkes at n.parkes@templeisraelcenter.org for reservations or more information. All early registrants will be entered into a special raffle. Temple Israel of White Plains is located at 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, at the corner of Miles Avenue.