Breast Cancer Awareness Evening 7th January 2025
Three engaging speakers complemented each other beautifully as their audience was absorbed, enlightened and educated in equal measure.
Gila Pfeffer told her personal story of surviving breast cancer as a carrier of the BRCA gene with a tragically strong family history of cancer. Gila spoke with immense humour despite the seriousness and sadness of her story. We were all totally hooked by what she had to say and queued up afterward to purchase signed copies of her book, “Nearly Departed: Adventures in Loss, Cancer, and Other Inconveniences”.
Josh Forman, Head of Science Education and Outreach at Jnetics, offered us the science (and the scientist) behind the BRCA gene and routes into BRCA testing available to us all. His clear passion for his subject (and his previous career as a science teacher) helped us to follow his very clear explanations on genetics, inheritance and the role the BRCA gene plays in our make-up. Most importantly, Josh signposted us to pathways for BRCA testing – open to anyone with one Jewish grandparent https://nhsjewishbrcaprogramme.org.uk/ and explained the reassuring procedures around the testing protocols.
Dr Michelle Ferris, recently retired as a local GP, took us on her journey to develop the Befriend Your Boobs campaign, mentioning the role of three young women who died from breast cancer before they were 40. Sharing statistics that were meaningful and impactful, while giving us options for self-care, Michelle showed us the effect of what she and her team are doing to ensure that women (and men) are aware of their risks, make positive decisions and take control of their individual circumstances.
What each speaker in their own way emphasised is the idea that “knowledge is power”. And each woman and man in that room came away from this event with greater knowledge, increased understanding and positive options for next steps. We thank our speakers for taking up a very difficult topic and leaving us feeling uplifted and empowered.
– Jacqui Rudolph
