Chai Cancer Care reports 44 per cent rise in breast cancer clients

Carriers of the BRCA1 and BRCA 2 gene mutation, which sharply increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, is more prevalent in the Jewish community than the rest of the population. BRCA gene mutation can also increase the chances of prostate and pancreatic cancer.

One in 40 Jews of Ashkenazi descent and one in 140 people of Sephardi descent carry a BRCA gene mutation, compared to one in 250 of the general population.

The test is available to anyone over the age of 18 with at least one Jewish grandparent.

Of the 22,812 results which have been delivered, 473 BRCA carriers have been identified, according to the NHS. Those patients will now be able to explore preventative measures.

Victoria Portnoi, CEO of Chai, which, along with Jnetics, is the programme’s community engagement partner, said: “The NHS Jewish BRCA testing programme offers families the chance to understand their genetic risk, and that knowledge can lead to earlier detection and save lives. Carrying a BRCA gene mutation does not mean someone will develop breast cancer, but it does raise the risk and can have implications for other family members. Early identification gives people the chance to take preventative steps – and it can save lives.”

Chai CEO Victoria Portnoi[Missing Credit]

Abigail (not her real name), 35, whose mother died of breast cancer at 41, discovered she carried the BRCA1 mutation after her aunt’s ovarian cancer diagnosis.

While preparing for a preventative double mastectomy, a routine MRI showed that Abigail already had breast cancer. “Because I was already aware of my BRCA1 status, I was not surprised when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My initial thoughts were fairly positive – thank goodness it had been caught. I was able to get it early, thanks to the BRCA knowledge.” Since discovering she is a BRCA carrier and receiving her breast cancer diagnosis, Abigail has lost her aunt, and her grandmother, who has already faced the disease three times, has now been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.

“I would urge everyone in the Jewish community to have a BRCA test done and also to be proactive with screenings and checking themselves,” said Abigail. “If I hadn’t had the test, who knows how long it would have been until I got a diagnosis.

“I am also grateful to know so that my own children can have the knowledge too when they are old enough and can take control of their health a little more. I would always say cancer is scarier than the knowledge of BRCA.”

Abigail has been supported by Chai throughout, receiving counselling and attending their BRCA support services, whose numbers have tripled in the past five years.

However, many of Chai’s breast cancer clients do not carry the BRCA mutation. Although there is a strong family history of breast cancer, Siobhan Dansky, who was diagnosed with the disease in her 40s, doesn’t have the BRCA.

The mother of two and rebbetzin of Cranbrook United Synagogue in Ilford said: “Because there was a history of breast cancer in my family, I spent years always checking myself for lumps. This time, I found one.”

Now in remission, Siobhan turned to Chai for counselling, complementary therapies and practical tools when it came to explaining the disease to her children. “Once I got my diagnosis, I called Chai straight away… I met a counsellor and cried the whole way through. I don’t think I paused for breath… I still see my therapist at Chai, who has been amazing.”

Chai CEO Victoria Portnoi said: “Every year, more people in the UK Jewish community are sadly facing breast cancer and turning to Chai for support. We are also seeing rising numbers of people affected by BRCA and confronting the challenges it brings. That is why we run dedicated support groups to help people process this knowledge and make informed decisions with care. Whatever the outcome [of a BRCA test], Chai is here to provide both information and support, ensuring no one has to face cancer alone.”

​October 31 is the deadline to sign up for the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme. For more information and to register, go to jewishbrca.org​ or click here

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