Woman Makes "Knitted Knockers" To Help Cancer Survivors Feel Like Themselves Again

Aug 06, 2018

Surviving breast cancer can mean losing a big part of yourself. Getting a mastectomy may be the only option a woman has, leaving her feeling uncomfortable and not like herself.

While losing a breast usually means beating cancer, it doesn’t make it any easier for some women. Many women end up looking for false silicone breasts to mimic the one or two they lost but according to Shirlee Sullivan, a cancer survivor, they aren’t always an option.

"I'll just go flat."

Sullivan recalled that she once decided that she wouldn’t have any reconstructive surgery. But then she realized how weird her clothes looked.

That is when Sullivan heard about a non-profit organization known as Knitted Knockers, a group that gives out prosthetic breasts to cancer survivors. The washable, hand-knit prosthetics are completely free.

Barb Demorest is the mastermind behind the company. In 2011, she underwent a mastectomy and was unable to have reconstructive surgery before she went back to work. She didn’t want to have to tell others what happened to her. However, she didn’t have a choice at the time.

Demorest talked to her doctor about her options. She found out that many people knitted their own falsies to fill the void where their breasts had been. This piqued her curiosity, so Demorest asked a friend from church for help. She was eager to feel like herself again.

She confirmed that it was a “life-changing” experience for her.

Demorest knew that she couldn’t be the only one with this specific need.

She stated that the demand for fake breast prosthetics is huge. Every year, 50,000 mastectomies are performed in the United States alone. About 90% of women feel as though they have to wear a breast prosthetic for some time.

Volunteers from all over have provided their knitting services in order to create the prosthetics for the women who need them. They are then mailed out with a handwritten note to show support.

Sullivan said her knitted knockers are very warm in the winter while being cool in the summer. They are very lightweight and easy to use. After you put your bra on, the knitted knocker simply goes into the cup. She says that it looks completely normal.

The knitting pattern for these revolutionary breast prosthetics have been downloaded over a million times. The company is continuously searching for knitters who are willing to help!

Many women don't even realize that surgical reconstruction or "going flat" aren't the only options for survivors of breast cancer. Spread the word so this article can reach those who need it the most!