5-Year, Federal Grant to Support Young and Metastatic Patients

News from the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program
October 30, 2024 

Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program Receives 5-Year, Federal Grant to Support Young and Metastatic Patients

The Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program has been awarded a significant 5-year grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish a groundbreaking program aimed at providing support and enhancing the quality of life for young women diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients and their families. 

This is the first time the Hotline, which is housed within Adelphi’s School of Social Work, has received a federal award; the CDC’s $18.4 million grant program, “Supporting Young Breast Cancer Survivors, Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients and their Families” began on September 30, 2024 with annual funding through September 20, 2029. The organization is among 11 grant recipients, including Weill Medical College – Cornell University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

As a result of this five-year award, the Hotline will initiate the Survivorship, Treatment, Education and Peer Support (STEP) Program which will support and improve the quality of life for young women diagnosed with breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients, and their families. The 25,000 women who will benefit from the STEP Program will be from the Hotline’s priority populations, including Hispanic and Black women, and medically underserved individuals. According to the New York State Cancer Registry, these communities are among the most vulnerable and are more likely to die from the disease. They demonstrate a need for education about breast health, early detection and culturally competent navigation to access services.

Reyna Machado, director of the breast cancer hotline and program, expressed her gratitude for the significant funding of this new initiative, emphasizing the program’s dedication to medically underserved communities. “The STEP Program will fund a specific initiative by the CDC that aligns with our goals, allowing us to reach and support medically underserved breast cancer patients across New York state,” she said. 

The STEP Program encompasses four culturally relevant breast cancer support services, including survivorship programming, treatment services facilitated by licensed social workers for individuals and groups, educational outreach, community programs, provider education, referrals, and peer support.

The Program will aim to establish and maintain psychosocial services in collaboration with Mercy Hospital, and Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC). These partnerships will ensure that patients, survivors, caregivers, family, and friends can access necessary support systems.

The Hotline’s STEP Program is among its many support services, all of which are complementary and funded by grants and private donations. Additional services include a new group for patients grappling with the side effects of hormone therapy. Recently, the organization hosted its annual Celebration of Survivorship event on October 18, where breast cancer survivors shared their inspiring stories of strength and resilience. 

Upcoming programs include an online forum featuring a practitioner from Northwell who will guide participants through meditation to alleviate holiday season stress and the Warriors Book Club, which is tailored to the needs of breast cancer survivors.

Learn more about the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline’s services and upcoming events.

From Left to Right: Dean Corbin, Diana Mitchnick, Danielle Gaudio-Lalehzar, Lynne Borah, Provost Storm, Reyna Machado, and Adina Beedenbender from Senator Martinez’s office. 

The Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program offers emotional support and resources to people with and/or concerned about breast cancer. To reach the Hotline, which is staffed by volunteers who are breast cancer survivors, call 800-877-8077 or online at breast-cancer.adelphi.edu. You are not alone.

We acknowledge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for its support of the Adelphi staff, and the printing and distribution of the monograph under cooperative agreement award DP24-0061, awarded to Adelphi University.  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.