Annual Breast Cancer Celebration of Survivorship 2023

News from the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program

Contact:
Lyn Dobrin, 516-997-8545; lyndobrin@gmail.com

August 21, 2023

Annual Breast Cancer Celebration of Survivorship 2023

Three breast cancer survivors will share their inspiring stories at the annual Celebration of Survivorship of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at the Adelphi University, University Center Ballroom in Garden City. Doors open at 4:30 pm and speakers begin at 5 pm. A free light supper will be served.

This inspiring and empowering event will also be recorded and posted on social media channels to reach patients who are immunocompromised or who would prefer not to attend an in-person gathering.

To register for this free event or to learn about sponsorship and ad journal possibilities, visit breast-cancer.adelphi.edu.

Speakers are Tanya Crawford, Sabine Hairabedian and Tim Hott

Tanya D. Crawford was diagnosed in 2020 at the age of 52 with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. She had six months of IV chemotherapy, four months of immunotherapy, a double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction, 27 sessions of radiation therapy and eight months of oral chemotherapy. Tanya utilized services offered by the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program and now volunteers with the program, covering some hotline shifts, supporting people as they navigate their own breast cancer diagnosis or the diagnosis of a family member. Tanya also tables at community events and has accompanied the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program staff to Albany lobbying for support in the NY state budget. She says faith and her support team consisting of her children, mother, sisterhood of three girlfriends and a few of her closest friends helped her get through her cancer diagnosis.

Tanya’s advice:  never lose hope, accept help and lean on whatever or whomever your higher power is.

Sabine Hairabedian was diagnosed in 2014 at the age of 41 with high grade DCIS. She had two lumpectomies that were unsuccessful. She then opted for a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using breast implants. Sabine feels lucky that her diagnosis did not require any additional treatments or medications. She says her twin boys, who were six at the time, were the reason for her to get better fast. They kept her busy and focused on routine, which was really helpful to avoid overthinking her situation. Additional help came from her “network of angels,” consisting of her family, friends, doctors and a group of volunteers at MWCABC (Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer). Serving as Co-Chair for the Outreach Program at MWCABC, Sabine feels privileged to work closely with the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program team.

Sabine’s advice: take one day at a time.

Tim Hott was diagnosed in 2020 at the age of 71 with advanced stage 3a breast cancer. He had a mastectomy to surgically remove his breast and roughly half of his lymph nodes in his left armpit. Following surgery, he faced five months of chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation therapy. Tim called the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program for support. He spoke with a hotline volunteer and appreciated the listening ear and coping strategies offered. Tim is now a volunteer with the program. Tim provides outreach at community events, helping to raise awareness for male breast cancer. Tim runs an adult recreational baseball league that holds a spring tournament with Male Breast Cancer Awareness as its theme and fundraising objective. A married father of three, Tim says his faith, wife and children provided emotional support and comfort, helping him get through his cancer diagnosis.

Tim’s advice: if you see or feel something that doesn’t look right, have it looked at. Don’t die of embarrassment.

Since 1980, the Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program (800-877-8077) has offered emotional support and information to people with and/or concerned about breast cancer.