THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Friday, May 10, 1985

49

HELP

For information regarding the
next public screening program (cur-
rently unscheduled), call Pola
Friedman, assistant administrator
for special projects at Sinai Hospi-
tal, 493-5098.
For genetic counseling at
Henry Ford Hospital, call Dr. Les-
ter Weiss, 876-3188. For genetic
counseling at Wayne State Univer-
sity and Hutzel Hospital, call Dr.
Mark Evans, 577-5151. Or consult
your own physician.

Benyas-Kaufman

Tay-Sachs has affected
the lives of Gary, Bobbi,
Jacob and Jason Miller.

The Millers hope this article will
acquaint others with the disease and
prompt them to become tested.
In the mid-1970s, the mass
screenings in Detroit attracted 1,000
persons each year. Over the last four
years, however, the numbers have de-
creased dramatically to 50. Medical
observers believe that many individu-
als have already been screened pub-
licly or by their own doctors, but others
see a lackadaisical attitude.
According to Dr. Cash, "Tay-
Sachs is rapidly becoming a disappear-
ing disease in those communities
where there has been adequate and
proper pre-natal screenings. In the
last few years, as an example, there
are more cases of Tay-Sachs among
non-Jews than among Jews in the New
England states. Most of the Jews on
the East Coast have been well
screened."
Dr. Michael Kaback, director of
the International Tay-Sachs Testing,
Data Collection, and Quality Control
Center, says, "In excess of one-half
million people have been tested since
the testing began. The incidence of
Tay-Sachs disease in the Jewish popu-
lation has dropped from 1970 to 1983
in excess of 90 percent."
Bobbie and Gary Miller urge
couples of child-bearing age to make
sure they are tested for Tay-Sachs be-
cause, in Bobbie's words, The joy of
having children outweighs the risk
factors and the pain and disappoint-
ment." 0