As one in a series of Jewish community educational events, Penn Medicine’s Basser Research Center for BRCA is collaborating with Living Beyond Breast Cancer and Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia to sponsor the Breast & Ovarian Cancer Symposium on Sunday, October 6, 2013 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Inherited Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Why Jewish Families Are at Heightened Risk

Susan Domchek, MD

The symposium will focus on the Ashkenazi Jewish population's increased chances of carrying a mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations in these genes place people at a greatly increased risk for both breast and ovarian cancer.

To explore this topic, CBS3/CW Philly 57’s Stephanie Stahl be moderating a panel of breast and ovarian cancer experts. Presenting on the panel will be Susan Domchek, MD, executive director of the Basser Research Center for BRCA.

“With proper genetic counseling, testing, education, and screening, women and men with BRCA mutations have the power to dramatically reduce their risk of developing these cancers and to catch them early when they are most curable,” says Domchek, also an oncologist at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center. 

“We wanted to partner with synagogues to build on the strong trust that rabbis have already formed with their congregations. These religious leaders are in a position to empower their congregations to learn about their risk and take decisive steps to prevent and detect cancer in their families.”

The Sunday October 6 event is free and open to the public, and no tickets are necessary.

Read More About BRCA in the Jewish Community