Montefiore News Releases

Text Messages Focused on Breast Cancer Awareness Available in English and Spanish

New York City, NY (July 10, 2012) -- A new text messaging program at Montefiore Medical Center is aimed at helping Bronx residents take better care of themselves, and each other.

The “Bronx4Bronx” text messaging program delivers current health information via text messages three times a week to users who opt in. The program, which launches today, was created by Evan Garfein, MD, plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Montefiore, who envisioned an inventive way to share useful health information with borough residents.

“Text messaging has become a convenient and reliable means of communication for people of all ages. Bronx4Bronx allows us to provide local residents with information literally at their fingertips, and we encourage them to share it with others,” Dr. Garfein said. “Our ultimate goal is to help make the Bronx community healthier through people caring for each other.”

Available in English and Spanish, the Bronx4Bronx text messaging program kicks off with a focus on breast cancer, with texts addressing breast cancer screening, treatment advances, lifestyle modification and social support. The messages are written by Dr. Garfein, a noted breast cancer patient advocate who is a member of the multidisciplinary breast cancer team at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care. Dr. Garfein’s past work on behalf of breast cancer patients includes authoring a bill signed into law in 2010 in New York State that requires hospitals to inform breast cancer patients of their breast reconstruction options.  He also founded the In It Together Fund, which provides assistance to breast cancer patients while they are recovering from reconstructive surgery.

To begin receiving Bronx4Bronx messages, text Bx4BX to 32075 (to receive messages in Spanish, text Bx4Bx S to 32075. No purchase is necessary and no password is needed. Patients can opt in or opt out at any time.