By Gurleen Brar

As November begins and Breast Cancer Awareness Month ends, it is important to understand the battles that survivors faced and to recognize the community’s importance in raising awareness.

Adelphi University has a statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program offering professional support to those concerned about or affected by breast cancer. However, many students are unaware of this resource.

Adelphi alumna Danielle Lalehzar ’89, ’90 MA called the hotline following her own diagnosis in 2020. She emphasizes the importance of staying informed about breast cancer awareness and available resources. “It’s always better to be knowledgeable of the latest information regarding detection and treatment,” she said.

Lalehzar was diagnosed with stage II invasive ductal carcinoma in June 2020. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this occurs when cancer cells that form in the milk ducts start to grow outside the ducts.

Throughout her journey, Lalehzar managed to get the support she needed through Adelphi University’s resources and talking to her loved ones. Lalehzar stresses the importance of community when dealing with breast cancer. She said, “Most of us know someone who has either been diagnosed with breast cancer or is a survivor who has been through it.” For Lalehzar, finding a community can help connect people with valuable resources.

“[People] can spread the word to those in need and should understand what the center offers,” Lalehzar said.

She added that Adelphi’s services are available free of charge to all and that the hotline staffers are very informed with many being survivors themselves.

Lalehzar does not consider herself only a breast cancer survivor. For her, the ubiquitous pink ribbon symbolizes how she is flourishing and moving forward. “The pink ribbon to me means I’m a thriver,” Lalehzar said. “Being a thriver after breast cancer means more than simply surviving the disease. It means finding ways to embrace life, rediscover joy and feel grateful for every day.”

In order to understand awareness of breast cancer, we need to know how it develops. Breast cancer is due to uncontrollable cell growth caused by mutations that build up, leading to a tumor. It typically occurs in those in their mid-50s and older, but it can affect younger people too.

Although breast cancer is most commonly found in females, it can also be found in males as well. According to the CDC, about 70-80% of breast cancer cases are invasive, which means that eventually a tumor can spread to other regions of the body.

According to the CDC’s research studies, breast cancer symptoms include:

1. A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a pea and hard like a marble.
2. Change in size or shape of the breast.
3. Skin that looks red on light skin and darker on dark skin.
4. Skin that looks scaly.

Recognizing possible symptoms is crucial, but understanding breast cancer also means learning about the factors that could increase a person’s risk such as aging, exposure to harmful drugs like diethylstilbestrol (DES), and genetic factors.

For those who want to learn more about Adelphi’s breast cancer hotline, visit their office located in the social work building or their website. Other ways to contact them are by email at breastcancerhotline@adelphi.edu and by phone at 800-877-8077 (available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.).