Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought

Breast cancer is, unfortunately, becoming increasingly common. The goal of this paper is to present a number of halakhic issues that arise concerning the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. It is hoped that such discussion will enable halakhic authorities to better advise women and couples going through this difficult experience. While this article was conceived primarily to address halakhic concerns related to breast cancer, much of the discussion will be relevant to women affected by other types of cancer as well. BACKGROUND ON BREAST CANCER Current statistics indicate that breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lifetime. In the US alone, in 2007, it is estimated that 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed among women, as well as 62,030 additional cases of in situ breast cancer, causing more than 40,000 deaths.1 Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and it is the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 45 and 55 years. The majority of cases occur in women who are post-menopausal. However, a sizable minority of women with breast cancer are still menstruating at the time of diagnosis. For Jewish women, an important difference between the two groups is the impact of the disease in observing hilkhot niddah.