The program heads into October with a new campaign: “When Survivors Unite, Hope Ignites!”
Since 1980, the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program has been assuring women—and men—diagnosed with breast cancer that they are not alone. Executive Director Reyna Machado calls the program “small but mighty,” because its seven staff members, three of whom are licensed social workers, and 65 volunteers run the hotline, support groups, wellness programs and referrals for breast cancer screenings. The program also serves as a training ground for students in the Adelphi University School of Social Work.
And with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the program is busier than ever.
Thinking Pink
Machado said the hotline is launching a new campaign: “When Survivors Unite, Hope Ignites!”
“This campaign encourages individuals to take care of their breast health in three ways: getting a mammogram, learning about breast cancer programs in their community and talking to someone who can help,” she explained. “Breast Cancer Awareness Month offers an opportunity to shine this light on the disease and to remind people to get screened.”
The program is also hosting three key events:
- Thursday, September 26: Laugh Out Loud – Comedy Fundraiser Night at Governor’s Comedy Club in Levittown
- Saturday, October 5: The annual Dr. Elsy Mecklembourg-Guibert Memorial Breast Cancer Walk/Run/Roll & Breast Cancer Awareness Month Kickoff. Machado said it’s the second time the hotline is partnering with Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages for the walk due, in part, to generous funding from the assemblymember.
- Thursday, October 17: The Celebration of Survivorship 2024 in Adelphi’s Ruth S. Harley University Center. Breast cancer survivors Danielle Gaudio-Lalehzar ’89, MA ’90, Diana Mitchnick and Lynne Borah will share their personal journeys overcoming this disease. State Senator Monica Martinez and Assemblywoman Solages will also be in attendance. The program will post the celebration afterward on its social media channels to accommodate those who would prefer not to attend an in-person gathering, such as patients who are immunocompromised.
Ongoing Support Beyond October
Machado said that calls to the hotline range from anxiety about upcoming appointments to requests for financial assistance to help with mental health. The hotline is a hybrid of both in-person and virtual support, with volunteers who offer telephone support from home or the Adelphi office. People can also email—and since March—have the option to text.
“Sometimes people say they were just diagnosed and they’re in a vulnerable place emotionally, but they can’t talk because they’re at work. Now they don’t have to—we can text with them to set up an appointment,” Machado said.
The hotline recently expanded to provide services to native Spanish speakers. They’ve also been offering in-person, bilingual counseling at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow for 20 years.
Another program, Sisters United in Health, provides bilingual community outreach through breast health workshops and referrals to women and men for free or low-cost cancer screenings through the New York State Cancer Services program.
Machado shared that after shifting support groups to a virtual format during the pandemic, the hotline plans to resume in-person meetings this fall, offering sessions for both newly diagnosed individuals and women coping with the side effects of hormone therapy. “We’ve received feedback that some people are ready for and are seeking support from our social workers and breast cancer patients,” she said.
The hotline also hosts educational forums with physicians and physical therapists like a virtual session on lymphedema and an in-person meditation session. On November 15, the program will host Feel Good Friday, an online wellness forum with Tina Conroy from the Center for Wellness and Integrative Medicine at Northwell Health.
Supporting the Hotline
Though the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program continues to be housed within the School of Social Work, Machado said they are funded through grants, the state and private and family foundations. The program is also part of Adelphi’s annual Giving Day.