Thursday, October 29, 6 pm, Sandler Family Campus
Jewish Family Service of Tidewater is partnering with JScreen to bring important genetic testing and education to Tidewater’s Jewish community. The event is an opportunity to learn more about genetic testing, understand inherited health risks, and take a proactive step toward protecting one’s health and the health of future generations.
JScreen is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing genetic diseases and hereditary cancers through genetic testing and education. JScreen began through Emory University’s Department of Human Genetics, with a focus on making genetic screening more accessible to the Jewish community. While its services are now available to people of all backgrounds, JScreen provides important screening for genetic conditions that are more common among people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.
Because of shared ancestry, people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a higher likelihood of carrying certain genetic mutations than the general population. For example, one in three to one in four Ashkenazi Jews carries a gene mutation associated with serious recessive conditions such as Tay-Sachs or Canavan disease. Most carriers have no symptoms, which means testing is often the only way to know. Genetic testing is also important when it comes to hereditary cancer. Ashkenazi Jewish populations have a higher prevalence of certain BRCA gene mutations, which are associated with an increased risk for hereditary breast, ovarian, and other cancers. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this is an especially meaningful time to learn more about hereditary cancer risks and the role genetic testing can play in early awareness and proactive health management.
The event will focus on two primary types of testing. Hereditary Cancer Testing screens for BRCA1, BRCA2, and more than 60 other genes associated with inherited cancer risks. Reproductive Carrier Screening tests for Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, and more than 260 other conditions that could potentially be passed on to children.
Registration for the event is required. Those who preregister for JScreen testing kits are encouraged to arrive early, beginning at 4 pm to pick up the kit and work with JScreen representatives to complete the steps for processing samples. Preregistering for a testing kit ensures a kit will be available and gives participants priority for having their sample processed that evening.
The program will include an educational presentation and panel discussion about genetic testing, inherited health risks, and the importance of screening at different stages of life.
Those who decide they want to pursue testing after attending the program may register for a JScreen testing kit that evening. Kits will be available for participants who register on-site, either before or after the main program; however, same-evening processing cannot be guaranteed for those registering at the event. JScreen representatives will be available throughout the evening to answer questions and assist with the testing process.
Testing is simple and can be completed at the event or at home. Those who prefer to complete the test at home can mail their sample using the provided prepaid mailer.
The event is not only for people who are planning to start a family. Genetic testing can be valuable for many reasons throughout life. People can learn about their hereditary cancer risk, understand whether they carry a genetic condition, or simply have more information about genetic health. Knowing risks can help with informed conversations with healthcare providers and proactive decisions about one’s health and family’s future.
The cost for the testing kit at this community event is $18. Laboratory processing will be billed through the participant’s insurance, depending on individual coverage. For those whose insurance does not cover the testing or who choose to self-pay, the total out-of-pocket cost will be no more than $249. Participants will receive information about their anticipated cost before moving forward with testing. JFS will also have limited financial assistance available for those who want to pursue genetic testing but may be unable to afford the expense. JFS is committed to helping ensure that cost does not prevent members of the community from accessing important healthcare screenings.
The registration link will be available in the next issue of Jewish News, on the JFS website, and on the JFS Facebook page.
A thriving Jewish community is one that cares for its members at every stage of life. By bringing JScreen to Tidewater, JFS is helping make important genetic health information and testing more accessible. This partnership reflects JFS’s commitment to education, prevention, and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.
For more information about this event, financial assistance for testing, or other JFS programs and services, contact Julie Kievit, Jewish Community Relations manager at Jewish Family Service, at jkievit@jfshamptonroads.org or 757-321-2318.