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A new mother in Massapequa Park. A hospital worker in Bay Shore whose benefits ran out. A Roosevelt woman fighting the disease thousands of miles from her family.
All three are battling breast cancer and all three are receiving crucial support from their communities this Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond.
Their stories reflect a national reality. An estimated 321,910 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, making it the most common cancer among American women aside from skin cancer.
Every two minutes, a woman in the U.S. receives a breast cancer diagnosis.
Behind the numbers is a burden few people see coming: the cost of fighting cancer. Chemotherapy, surgery, ongoing treatment and expenses insurance won’t cover pile up fast.
Many patients lose income during recovery at the exact moment their bills spike, and that financial strain piles on to the emotional and physical weight of battling cancer.
Here are 10 Long Island women and families leaning on GoFundMe campaigns this October, and how you can help.
Massapequa Park mom diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer after giving birth
Kristen Cusumano Cristiano, 36, had just given birth to her second daughter when postpartum back pain led her to push for an MRI. In April 2026, she was diagnosed with BRCA1-positive stage 4 triple-negative breast cancer that had spread to her brain, skull, spine, liver and other organs. She is raising money to support her husband, Anthony, and daughters Celine and Simone while she undergoes treatment and fights for more time with them. Donors have contributed more than $79,000.
Wading River mom battles breast cancer weeks after fiancé’s heart attack
Paula Stancampiano-Tuthill, a 2003 Shoreham-Wading River graduate, was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after her fiancé, Vito, suffered a heart attack. The family is also caring for a new baby, and both of their vehicles broke down in the same month. Friends launched a fundraiser to cover medical appointments, missed work and daily transportation to allow Paula focus on treatment and recovery. The fundraiser has received nearly $15,000 in donations.
West Babylon mom fighting breast cancer for more than a decade works to rebuild
Elizabeth DeLucia has battled breast cancer on and off for more than 10 years, enduring repeated rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. She is now recovering from a difficult reconstruction procedure that has left her unable to work. After draining much of her savings, she has been dipping into retirement funds to cover rent and living costs. She is raising money to support herself and her 10-year-old daughter, Lizzy, who has special needs, while she heals and rebuilds. Donations have totaled nearly $6,000.
Click here to support Elizabeth’s healing and rebuilding journey
Coram husband quits job to care for wife with stage 4 breast cancer
Stephanie Smith was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2022. The cancer has since spread to her liver, and nerve damage now requires her to use a walker. Her husband, Matt, quit his job to care for her, leaving the couple unable to afford bills, insurance or basic living costs. The fundraiser has collected $10,000 in donations.
Click here to help Matt and Stephanie fight their way through cancer
Oceanside mom of two, family’s sole earner, diagnosed with breast cancer
Amanda Retaleato was recently diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She is the sole income earner for her two young children, 4-year-old Dominick and 1-year-old Ariana, and her mother. A fundraiser will help cover medical bills, treatment, aftercare and child care so she can focus on healing and being there for her family. Created Aug. 31, the fundraiser has received $4,600 in contributions.
North New Hyde Park woman’s breast cancer returns after 15 years
After 15 years in remission, Katie Nidermaier learned during what was supposed to be a routine dermatologist visit that her breast cancer had returned as stage 4 metastatic disease.
Known for a lifetime of helping others, including sewing for cancer patients and raising money for groups like Make-A-Wish, Katie must keep working through treatment to afford bills insurance won’t cover. A friend launched a fundraiser to ease that burden.
Hundreds of donors have contributed a total of $29,000 to the GoFundMe effort for Nidermaier
Click here to support Katie’s fight against metastatic stage 4 cancer
Lake Ronkonkoma mom faces rare, aggressive form of breast cancer
Sylvia Hughes has been diagnosed with high-grade spindle cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer found in less than 1% of breast cancer patients. According to the fundraiser, it spreads through the bloodstream rather than the lymph nodes, so doctors have fast-tracked her treatment. She is asking for financial support as she continues working and caring for her daughters.
Bay Shore hospital worker fights breast cancer after benefits run out
Serene Westmoreland, a longtime member of the South Shore University Hospital team, was diagnosed with breast cancer and has been unable to work during treatment.
With her disability benefits exhausted, a coworker launched a fundraiser to help cover her medical bills and housing costs while she focuses on healing. The fundraising effort has received $5,000 in donations.
Roosevelt woman far from family in Colombia battles breast cancer
Liliana González came to the U.S. from Colombia in search of a better life. Now facing breast cancer, she can’t support herself while she focuses on treatment.
Fiercely independent and never one to ask for help, she lives alone, far from her daughter, Luisa, and most of her family back home. Her sister launched a fundraiser to ease the financial burden. The effort has raised $2,400.
North Bellport sonographer raising funds to help survivors feel whole again
Jessica Boyce, a breast sonographer for more than 18 years, is raising money to complete certification in areola restorative tattooing, a specialized service that helps breast cancer survivors feel whole after mastectomy and reconstruction.
She hopes to offer it to survivors, especially those who couldn’t otherwise afford it, and is seeking help with tuition, supplies and certification costs.
Click here to contribute to the restorative tattoo training for survivors
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