Renee Wasserman laid out a white poster board and is mapping out a plan.

Renee Wasserman laid out a white poster board calendar and went to work, mapping out a plan.

"There absolutely has to be someone filling in," Wasserman said.

She's not going to be at home for a few weeks. As a cancer previvor, someone who has a genetic predisposition to the disease, Renee is having both breasts removed to reduce her risk.

"For the way that I think and the way that I wanted to handle it, the best choice was -- what many would consider -- is the most radical, which is complete removal," she said.

	For More information:
• “Breast Cancer Genetics and the Jewish Woman” from The Jewish Woman Magazine • A booklet of information, FAQ’s, and resources released by Sharsheret for Jewish Women.

That removal means removing a mom and a wife from the picture and relying on a support system. Renee's mom and dad are coming to town, but even more are expected to make an appearance in the Wasserman home.

"The support system that will be helping my parents while I'm out of town as far as friends and local community groups, I'm also putting that down so my parents know," she said, as she wrote on the color-coded calendar.

Support comes in many forms.

Robyn Sperling and Helen Gilbert are heading up an effort to push breast cancer awareness into the spotlight as co-chairs of the Jewish Community Association of Austin Women's Division.

		WATCH THE VIDEO
	Support Groups News 8's Crestina Chavez talks about finding people and groups to lean on with or without the shared genes.

"Ashkenazi Jewish women have a higher risk, but there's a test out there that we can take, that women can take, and know whether or not they are carriers, and then, thus, decide what they're going to do about that risk," Gilbert said.

The JCAA is offering a symposium this month called Genetics and the Jewish Woman. Medical professionals and cancer support organizations will be on hand.

"Knowledge, hope and support is truly the goal and I think as women sit and listen to our speaker and become more informed, you know, learn about options, learn about the diagnosis, learn about the treatments, learn about prevention," Sperling said.

But, the JCAA's efforts aren't stopping there. With the help of a non-profit support group called Sharsheret, the community center is starting its own local support group for breast cancer patients and survivors.

	Legislation:
The EARLY Act has been introduced to congress. The legislation would create a major breast cancer education campaign targeted to all young women. • More information about the sponsors of the EARLY Act. • Keep track of the bill as it goes through congress.

"The support tends to inspire and empower others and my hope is that people walk away with the knowledge and power that they need to go, but maybe someone will be able to forge a friendship or relationship that will help them with their fight or their struggle," Gilbert said.

All this talk about breast cancer led Gilbert and Sperling to do a little digging.

"The two of us have learned so much about, 'Gosh, maybe I'm a candidate to be tested for the BRACA gene. What's my family risk?' I went and looked at my family history," Sperling said.

Both are taking the genetic test.

"There's so much to share, so much knowledge to share," Wasserman said.

	She wants to make it home in time of Halloween.

A path Renee's been down as her journey takes her to one more stop.

"I'm one of the fortunate ones, and I also take that very seriously as far as wanting others to join this race," she said.

It’s a race to the finish line, with her surgery in Chicago. She wants to make it home in time of Halloween: the time to be mom again, for her to be the support and for her to bring smiles to her children, missing their mother's warm embrace.

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