Farmingdale HS Students Get Lesson In Breast Cancer Awareness From Maurer Foundation

FARMINGDALE, NY — Farmingdale High School students received a lesson in breast health that could potentially save lives.

The Maurer Foundation visited high school health classes taught by Samantha Gaffney and Alyssa Farrell during Monday and Tuesday.

Jessica Ortiz, community outreach coordinator and educator at the Maurer Foundation, taught students about breast cancer myths, uncontrollable risk factors like genetic mutations, and lifestyle risk factors. Students learned the importance of breast self-examinations, using models designed to show what feeling around for tumorous lumps is like. They were encouraged to share the information they learned with both female and male relatives, as it could potentially save their lives.

Kristen Cummings, director of science and health K-12, Farmingdale School District, said the past two days went "really well."

"The amount of depth they went into, I think, is beyond what we normally teach kids during Breast Cancer Awareness Month," Cummings told Patch. "It’s so detailed, and it’s so important for students to learn about their own bodies. Because we empower students when they know about their own bodies and then they can help other people."

Cummings said she never experienced anything like the hands-on breast cancer exam. She called it a "valuable tool" that should be integrated into doctor visits.

"[Students] should learn how to do that from a young age," Cummings said. "I sensed students get a little squirmy at times, but they were invested. They asked great questions."

Farrell said she learned things during the demonstration she had not been taught herself while earning her certification in health education.

"Even as an older woman and getting older, your doctors don’t teach you these things or what to look for," she said.

Farrell said the program was "super beneficial."

"Hopefully, God forbid, these students can protect themselves and get tested or check themselves, or even their loved ones who might not know," Farrell said. "I think it goes a very, very long way."

Farrell, who has 10 classes total, saw the presentation from The Maurer Foundation numerous times. She said she was nervous about how her students would receive a "highly sensitive topic," so she told them she was available to answer their questions before and after the presentation. Her students were "super receptive" to the presentation, she said.

"Overall, there were a lot of shocked faces I saw from my students," she said, adding that the topic intrigued them. "Hopefully it hits home and it goes a long way for them throughout their entire life."

Farrell said the self-exam was "amazing," especially with the breast models itself. Students and educators alike got to feel the texture of the dense breast versus the soft side.

"It's so important, because doctors don’t even teach you that," she said. "There are no models in the doctor’s office. So I think that’s important to understand what they’re actually looking for."

Some of Farrell's male students did not know men could be diagnosed with breast cancer.

"That could be more terminal, because men are not checking as frequently," she said. "Overall, the environment that we created to spread that awareness and breast cancer awareness and break that stigma of, it’s OK to go get tested. It’s OK to check yourself. You are doing this for your health and wellness. At the end of the day, a lot of kids might be scared or uncomfortable, but breaking that stigma of discomfort is so important for not only them, but their loved ones and this whole community. I was very happy with this presentation."

Cummings said she has heard stories of children going home from breast cancer awareness presentations and mentioning it to a family member, who then felt a lump and went to get checked by a doctor.

"So I really think our students don’t always come home and tell you ‘what they did at school today,’ but I think this is something that they will do and talk about, and they can give information to their families," Cummings said.

Students learned the importance of healthy eating and drinking habits, as well as controllable lifestyle risk factors, such as the importance of exercise and proper nutrition.

Farrell said she hopes her students continue to develop healthy habits and remember what they learned in health class.

"I think lessons like this from this beautiful foundation that pushed in goes a long way and will really resonate and stick with them," Farrell said. "I always tell them, 'Your health is your greatest wealth. That stays with you throughout your entire life.'"

Ortiz said she hopes students discuss uncontrollable risk factors — such as genetics — with their parents to learn if they could be at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. She also emphasized the importance of monthly breast self-examinations.

The Maurer Foundation runs programming in 85 percent of Long Island schools, the foundation shared.

"Ultimately our goal is 100 percent, because we know 100 percent of students can benefit from this information," Lauren Fisch-Henry, the foundation's social media and marketing specialist, said.

Read a Q&A with The Maurer Foundation here.

This week marked The Maurer Foundation's first time bringing its lesson to the Farmingdale School District.

Ortiz said all schools are important to the foundation.

"It’s important to always share that information that you know to every single student, right?" Ortiz said. "I think it was getting that information to the students; we want to give it to every single school, so when we have a school we haven’t been able to get to, it’s like, 'All right!' These students also need it, so we want to get in there as well, because they need it, and we know they will share the information with their family members, as well."

The Maurer Foundation is a non-profit established in 1995 by Long Island breast surgeon, Dr. Virginia Maurer. Their mission is to save lives through breast health education that focuses on breast cancer prevention, early detection, risk reduction and healthy lifestyle choices.

Cummings called the presentation a "big success."

"We’re ready to do it again next year," she said.