One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in her lifetime.  What is more, 25 percent of the women who develop breast cancer will need a mastectomy to remove harmful tissue.  After the mastectomy, many women invest in breast prostheses instead of undergoing strenuous reconstructive surgery.  Women pay good money and expect to get quality prostheses, but what they often find is that the silicone is heavy, and the plastic can be irritating to the skin.

A lighter, more affordable alternative to breast prostheses are called Knitted Knockers.  They are handmade breast prostheses, uniquely knitted on double pointed needles to fit each individual request.  Barbara Demorest, founder of knittedknockers.org, says these prostheses work great for women who are “having a reconstruction method, or if you’re a woman who had a significant lumpectomy, or a lot of radiation where that can shrink the breast so you’re uneven or lopsided.”  The knocker can be adjusted by adding or taking out the stuffing.  They are versatile and they can be molded to fit your needs at any point in the reconstruction process.

Dr. Cary S Kaufman describes the comparison between regular prostheses and Knitted Knockers by saying, “prostheses are like the size of a water balloon, and Knitted Knockers are like the size of air, as far as the weight goes.”  The knitted prostheses are soft and they give a full shape to regular bras.  And, according to Kaufman, “you don’t have to have anything special because the special things are so expensive, and you don’t know if you want to spend that much money on something that may not fit.”

The best part about knitted knockers?  They’re free of charge to any woman who needs them.  Through this organization, women from across the country volunteer their expertise and make knitted prostheses for breast cancer survivors around the globe.  In the United States alone, Knitted Knockers serves over 900 medical clinics.  In the Statesboro community, a resident by the name of Leslie Sprando has started knitting for this wonderful cause.  Connect had the privilege of speaking with her on the experience, and she is eager for other knitters in the area to get involved.

For those who are interested in volunteering, knittedknockers.org offers a guide on how to get started, as well as knitting patters to use.  To learn more about the services that Knitted Knockers provides, or to donate, visit the website at knittedknockers.org.