New Brunswick Police Donate $2,789 to Breast Center

New Brunswick Police PBA Local 23 presented $2,789 to Saint Peter’s Breast Center on November 4, 2026, following Detective Michael Negvesky’s fundraising initiative inspired by his wife Lisa’s breast cancer treatment.

The donation will help the Saint Peter’s University Hospital Foundation purchase an MRI-compatible vacuum-assisted breast biopsy device costing approximately $48,000. The specialized equipment would allow the hospital to conduct biopsies using magnetic resonance imaging guidance.

The effort was organized by the New Brunswick Police Department’s Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 23 during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Officers sold custom shirts and hoodies, and the union matched the proceeds dollar-for-dollar.

A Family’s Breast Cancer Journey

The fundraiser began with the experiences of Lisa Negvesky, whose breast cancer diagnosis in November 2023 led to surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy at Saint Peter’s University Hospital.

Negvesky initially underwent a routine mammogram before an ultrasound-guided biopsy confirmed stage-one breast cancer. The diagnosis brought uncertainty as she waited to meet the surgeon responsible for planning her treatment.

“The time period between that and meeting with Dr. Abbasi was terrifying,” Negvesky said. “We just didn’t know.”

Her care was overseen by Dr. Sundus Abbasi, a breast surgeon with Astera Cancer Care who practices at Saint Peter’s Breast Center. Abbasi helped guide Negvesky through the decisions and treatment that followed her diagnosis.

Negvesky underwent a double mastectomy in November 2023. She began chemotherapy in January 2024 and completed 12 rounds, followed by nine months of immunotherapy.

Genetic testing later identified an inherited risk mutation. That finding led to additional preventive surgery, including a hysterectomy intended to reduce her risk of ovarian cancer.

She subsequently achieved clinical remission and transitioned to blood monitoring every six months.

Continuing Life During Cancer Treatment

Throughout her treatment, Negvesky continued working as a clinic director serving children with autism between the ages of 2 and 6 in Livingston, New Jersey.

She also remained involved in youth lacrosse, coaching teams for her children, Mackenzie and Brayden. These responsibilities continued alongside the appointments and medical treatment required during her cancer journey.

Negvesky credited the personalized attention she received at Saint Peter’s with helping her navigate the experience.

“I felt like my care was top-notch. It was very individualized,” Negvesky said. “I didn’t feel like I was just, you know, a patient with breast cancer stage one.

I felt like I was Lisa Negvesky who had cancer, and they needed to help me.”

Abbasi, who has practiced at Saint Peter’s for six years, described the importance of understanding patients as individuals rather than concentrating exclusively on their diagnoses.

“An important part of taking care of someone is not just focusing on what disease they have, who the person is and how are they going to react to everything,” Abbasi said. “You want to be with someone who’s going to be able to help carry you through all that.”

Police Fundraiser Supports Hospital Equipment

The experience inspired Detective Michael Negvesky and fellow members of PBA Local 23 to support the breast care program that treated his wife.

The officers organized an apparel fundraiser during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, selling specially designed shirts and hoodies. The union’s matching contribution increased the amount generated by those purchases.

On November 4, Michael Negvesky joined fellow union representatives in presenting the $2,789 donation to Abbasi.

The contribution was directed toward the hospital foundation’s effort to purchase equipment for the Breast Center rather than toward an individual patient’s treatment expenses.

By supporting the department that cared for his wife, Negvesky and his colleagues connected their fundraising effort to a medical service used by other patients receiving breast cancer evaluations.

Why the Breast Center Needs Equipment

Scarlett Szymanski, director of Ambulatory Oncology, Radiology, Cardiology, and the Breast Program at Saint Peter’s, explained the need for specialized biopsy equipment compatible with magnetic resonance imaging.

Conventional biopsy equipment cannot necessarily be used safely or effectively inside an MRI environment. The proposed vacuum-assisted device is designed specifically for procedures performed under MRI guidance.

Such equipment enables clinicians to collect breast tissue samples from areas being evaluated through magnetic resonance imaging, supporting diagnostic decisions when that imaging approach is required.

The device carries an estimated acquisition cost of $48,000. The hospital foundation is combining community donations to help cover the expense.

Szymanski also identified supply-chain challenges affecting specialized medical equipment as part of the hospital’s procurement concerns.

The intended purchase addresses a practical equipment need within Saint Peter’s breast care services. Access to a compatible biopsy system would support MRI-guided diagnostic procedures at the New Brunswick hospital.

The donation represents approximately 5.8% of the estimated equipment cost, based on the $2,789 contribution and $48,000 purchase estimate. The police fundraiser therefore contributes to a larger funding effort rather than paying for the entire device.

Community Support and Future Fundraising

The hospital’s fundraising approach allows contributions from community organizations to support equipment purchases that exceed the resources raised by any one local campaign.

For PBA Local 23, the project grew from a member family’s direct experience with the hospital. The apparel sales also gave participating officers and supporters a way to contribute to breast cancer care during the October awareness campaign.

The initiative links Lisa Negvesky’s recovery with an equipment purchase intended to benefit other patients requiring specialized breast imaging and biopsy procedures.

The foundation is combining community donations toward the equipment purchase. PBA Local 23 has not announced another fundraising campaign.

The remaining financing and purchase schedule for the MRI-compatible biopsy device have not been announced.