An Ounce of Prevention: BRCA, Genetic Testing, & Preventative Measures

The risk of carrying a BRCA gene mutation that causes breast and ovarian cancer is ten times greater among women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent than among the general population. With growing concern over what preventive measures Jewish women should take, the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) in East Hampton is organizing a community awareness workshop on how Jewish law views this modern day medical dilemma.
The class, being held Sunday, October 27 at 2:00 PM, will explore the biblical requirement to safeguard one’s health, and whether it obligates Jews of Ashkenazi descent to test for BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 gene mutations. Even more importantly, it will discuss whether Jewish law recommends women to undergoradical mastectomies or oophorectomies in case they do test positive, in order to save their lives.