Adelphi Breast Cancer Program Urges Women Across New York to “Take the First Step” During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

For women facing breast cancer, taking the first step toward getting information, seeking support and prioritizing their health is important.

The Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program is using Breast Cancer Awareness Month to encourage women across New York to take that step and connect with a network of survivors, volunteers and professionals who will be there along the way.

The message "Take the First Step. You're Not Alone" is the theme of the program's Fall 2026 breast cancer awareness campaign. It encourages women to prioritize their health by scheduling mammograms, learning about available breast cancer programs and reaching out for information and support.

That message will come to life on Thursday, October 22, when the program presents its annual Celebration of Survivorship at Adelphi University in Garden City. Breast cancer survivors Pam Shapiro, Donna T. Bacon '94, MSW '99, PhD, and Jeannie Rettura will share their experiences with diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and the support they received along the way.

"For many women, the most difficult part is taking that first step and reaching out," said Reyna Machado, executive director of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program. "Once they do, there are people here who understand what they are experiencing. Our volunteers, most of whom are breast cancer survivors themselves, and our professional staff provide information, support and connections to local resources. We want women across New York to know that support is available throughout their breast cancer journey."

Since 1980, the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program, a project of the Adelphi University School of Social Work, has provided information and emotional support to people affected by breast cancer. Its toll-free hotline operates 365 days a year and connects callers with volunteers who are breast cancer survivors and understand firsthand many of the concerns surrounding a diagnosis.

The program also provides professional counseling in English and Spanish, support groups, educational forums and events, community outreach, survivorship programming and referrals for free or low-cost mammograms.

The women speaking at this year's Celebration of Survivorship have various experiences with breast cancer and have been connected with our program supporting other women for decades.

Shapiro has faced breast cancer diagnoses in 2000, 2010 and 2019 and serves as a member of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program Advisory Board. Dr. Bacon is a breast cancer survivor and advocate who was diagnosed in 2006. Rettura, diagnosed in 1986, is a breast cancer survivor and volunteer with the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program.

The Celebration of Survivorship will be held Thursday, October 22, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom at Adelphi University's Ruth S. Harley University Center in Garden City. Doors open at 4:00 p.m., with the program beginning at 4:30 p.m. A light supper will be served. The event is free.

About the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program

The Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program provides free support and resources for people with or concerned about breast cancer. Services include a toll-free hotline staffed by breast cancer survivors, professional counseling in English and Spanish, support groups, educational programs, community outreach, survivorship programming and referrals for free or low-cost mammograms. The program is available 365 days a year.

For information and support, call 800.877.8077, text 516.262.3263 or visit: adelphi.edu/breast-cancer.