Prevention GENEration

 Awareness changes your destiny

The Prevention GENEration program was established by Rosa Dembitzer after personally surviving hereditary breast and ovarian cancer caused by BRCA 1 hereditary mutation. The program was launched in conjunction with the Israel Cancer Association and the Israel Genetics Consortium, under leading geneticist Doctor Ephrat Levy-Lahad.

The Prevention GENEration program goals are to raise awareness and encourage testing for the BRCA hereditary mutation. These mutations run in families of Ashkenazi Jewish descent at a much higher rate than the general population. In the realm of national public policy, the program was successful in including the BRCA test in the Israeli health basket at no cost for all people of Ashkenazi descent. Previously it was only given if one person in the close family had tested positive for BRCA. This was a tremendous achievement for which Dr. Levy-Lahad won the EMET Prize in Israel.

To achieve its goals the program has a website in the page of the Israel Cancer Association that includes an online questionnaire in Hebrew and vast information on the topic including videos and brochures.

The family history questionnaire

The program aims to raise awareness for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, focusing on genetic mutations such as BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, which causes higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. 

Take the family history interactive questionnaire

People that test high in the questionnaire receive a letter urging them to get genetic testing.

 

Our program coordinators visit oncological wards to promote the program and the need for genetic testing for BRCA mutations, as advocacy is a key component of the program. Our alliance with the Israel Cancer Association establishes the program in a unique position to fight for change.

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