Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Screening & Prevention


This page addresses some of the main halachic issues that arise in conjunction with breast and ovarian cancer screening and prevention. Please see here for a general discussion of halachic issues that arise with diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer.

Approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during her life, and one in forty Ashkenazi women carries a BRCA gene mutation associated with a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Because of the unfortunate prevalence of these cancers in the Jewish community, it is important for all community members to be aware of the support organizations providing essential services in this area, whether to seek help, to connect friends and loved ones with help, or to find ways to be supportive. See our list, here.

Halacha encourages us to take care of our health, and this includes regular screening for cancer. Early detection can allow for less aggressive treatment and can improve outcomes.

Breast Self-Awareness: We encourage women to practice breast self-awareness. Learn more here.

Mamography, Ultrasound, MRI, and Other Examinations: Protocols depend on one’s age and medical history, and each woman should consult with her physician regarding her screening schedule. Note that it is halachically permissible to have a male physician or technician perform these procedures, including visual and manual examination of the breasts.

HPV Vaccine/Pap Smear/HPV Testing: Each woman should follow the schedule of cervical cancer screening and prevention recommended by her healthcare provider. Please see our pages on  HPV Vaccination, Pap Smear & HPV Test and Cervical Biopsy for more information on prevention, screening and testing procedures, and related halachot.

Genetic Screening: Given the prevalence of BRCA mutations (and other mutations) associated with increased cancer risk in women and men of Ashkenazi descent, it is highly recommended to test for the mutation. Some rabbinic authorities consider this to be an obligation, especially when there is a family history of cancer.

A woman should discuss when to test with her healthcare team. Many women choose to test at about age 25. Women with a high familial risk or planning pre-marital genetic screening often test earlier. Testing can be beneficial at any age.

Prophylactic Procedures: Preventative procedures like mastectomy, oophorectomy, and salpingectomy are sometimes recommended to prevent cancer in women at high risk. These procedures are widely permitted halachically, even when they may result in sterilization. The decision and choice of timing of the procedure is left to a woman and her medical team, taking into account potential effects on fertility and family planning.

Learn more about some common halachic issues that arise following prophylactic procedures, in particular with respect to mikveh immersion, here.

PGT-M (PGD): Men or women who are carriers for a genetic mutation associated with elevated breast cancer risk may choose to try to eliminate the chance of passing on the mutation by pursuing pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT), which entails pregnancy through IVF and includes a screening procedure. The advisability of these technologies in these cases is still subject to medical and halachic debate. Yoetzet Halacha Fertility Counselors are available to discuss these issues.

Please see here for links to published halachic articles on screening and treatment for breast and ovarian cancer.

We discuss halachic ramifications of hysterectomy here.

See here for a discussion of mikveh after cancer treatment or prophylactic procedures.

This page was updated on 1 February, 2024.


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All health and health-related information contained within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for consulting with your health care professional. The advice is intended to offer a basis for individuals to discuss their medical condition with their health care provider but not individual advice. Although every effort is made to ensure that the material within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is accurate and timely, it is provided for the convenience of the Web site user but should not be considered official. Advice for actual medical practice should be obtained from a licensed health care professional.


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