During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, brave women share their life stories and choose to transform their struggle into a journey of strength, joy, and hope. Aliona Fox and Racheli Rotman prove that with love, support, and faith – even in the most difficult moments, one can choose light and continue living with a heart full of joy.
Racheli Rotman, 31 years old and mother of three children, discovered she was a BRCA gene carrier about seven years ago, just two months after her mother passed away from breast cancer. From the moment of discovery and for nearly four years, Racheli was under regular medical monitoring, until at age 28 her treating physician recommended a preventive mastectomy.
“I was conflicted about the medical recommendation. I was healthy, working full-time as a teacher, and the surgery was recommended for the middle of the school year. I preferred to postpone the surgery to summer vacation, but the doctor’s sense of urgency was decisive. A decision that turned out to have saved my life.”
Racheli was discharged from the hospital after surgery on Passover Eve, and celebrated the Seder night with her family, filled with gratitude and relief. After Passover vacation, she returned to work and continued her routine, but three days before Shavuot she received a phone call from the clinic that changed everything. The test results revealed two cancerous carcinoma tumors that hadn’t been visible before. “If I had waited, it might have been too late,” she says.
She chose to time the surgery and recovery process between Purim and Passover, to be absent from work as little as possible and remain an anchor for her students. “Work was a source of strength for me. It gave me a reason to get up in the morning, to feel I was continuing to make a difference. I didn’t let the disease stop me.”
“I received full support from my workplace as an educator and was even accepted to another school during the treatment period. Both principals, from the school where I finished working and from the school where I was accepted as a class teacher, supported me throughout. Just as I didn’t see the disease as an obstacle to advancing my career and teaching a class, neither did my environment. I finished the school year and wrote report cards for all my students. It was my victory certificate, and it gives me satisfaction to continue with a smile on my face and achieve more goals and victories.”
In the past two years, Racheli joined Jeremy’s Circle, along with other friends she met in the oncology department. “The connections formed with other families being treated together with us are a gift in themselves. We meet not only in oncology but also at the organization’s fun days. Jeremy’s Circle organizes fun days, activities, and unforgettable experiences for the children during every vacation. The organization allows the children to feel they’re in a safe place, happy, and loved. It gives me peace of mind to focus on helping myself heal, knowing they’re taken care of, enjoying themselves, and having fun with adapted activities full of joy. Thanks to Jeremy’s Circle, I feel we’re not alone. Someone is thinking of us, accompanying us, supporting us. This is my strength to continue, to smile, and to choose life anew every day.”
Aliona Fox, mother of two from Be’er Sheva, discovered she had breast cancer almost by chance. It started in 2021, when she underwent surgery to remove a fatty lump in her neck. About two weeks later, she noticed bleeding from her nipple – that was a warning sign. She began a round of tests, and then came the news that she had metastatic breast cancer, stage 4.
“In one moment, my whole world changed, but I decided I wouldn’t let the disease beat me.” From the difficult chemotherapy rounds, through complete mastectomy surgery and prolonged radiation, Aliona maintained one consistent approach of optimism and humor. “I laughed about the baldness, laughed about the situation, even about the fact that finally someone else is doing laundry at home. Humor saved me. When the oncologist told me she was proud of me, I understood I was managing to pass my optimism to those around me.”
During the following year, she also underwent surgery to remove a tumor in her thyroid gland, this time at an early stage. Today, after completing chemotherapy treatments and continuing biological treatment, she continues monitoring another tumor and is still full of optimism. “Every morning I wake up and see my children is a gift. I remind myself to enjoy, go out, breathe, put myself and the good at the center.”
Even amid the ongoing struggle with the disease and its effects, Aliona continues to shine light on others and volunteers with the “Houston Food Rescue” project in Be’er Sheva, collecting vegetables, fruits, and prepared food and distributing them to families in need. The project was established by Itai Hadar Houston, who was murdered at the Nova party on October 7th. Aliona continues his work together with his friends. During the war, she was also involved in distributing food to soldiers. “This giving fills me; between waves of pain, when I help others, it strengthens me.”
During her recovery period, Aliona joined Jeremy’s Circle. “Before the illness, I used to go on trips with the children, but after the illness, it became difficult. Thanks to Jeremy’s Circle we returned to hiking and spending time together. The organization sends us to fun days and takes care of everything, including transportation and food. Suddenly, my children come back with a smile, I see the light in their eyes, and it’s good for all of us. For me, it’s a privilege to receive and also to give. It makes me continue to smile, be happy, and stay positive for myself and for those around me.”