Adelphi's breast cancer hotline now offers online chat

NEW YORK - Given how much people seem to like communicating by text, IM, Skype, Snapchat and more, that companies and organizations are increasingly offering customer and client services via online chat makes perfect sense. Now a prominent cancer support program in New York has joined that crowd.

The Garden City, New York-based Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program has begun offering an online chat feature on its website to connect the public with either trained social workers or volunteers standing by to answer questions and provide support. The volunteers are breast cancer survivors themselves. 

"Our history has always been to respond to needs in the community," program supervisor Heather Edmonson said in statement. "Now with so many people comfortable communicating online, we are making our one-to-one services available through this online chat."

Adelphi University's program is considered the oldest breast cancer hotline in the country. It began in 1980 as a post-mastectomy group at the School of Social Work. That group teamed with the staff, faculty, and interns at Adelphi to evolve into a full-fledged program and hotline. (Disclosure: my partner is a staff member.)

The online chat feature is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, while the hotline (800-877-8077) is available seven days a week.

To chat online, go to breast-cancer.adelphi.edu, and click on "CHAT WITH US." Services are free.

Click here for 5 questions for Adelphi's breast cancer hotline