For breast cancer patients, navigating the post-treatment options can add another layer of stress in their healing journey. Patients who get a mastectomy are faced not only with healing after a serious surgery, but the decision of getting breast reconstruction surgery. For those who opt to not get this surgery, the Northwest Indiana Breast Care Center at Methodist Hospitals has brought a new, free option to the table.
The center has partnered with Knitted Knockers, an organization that knits breast-like prostheses for breast cancer patients. Traditional breast prosthetics are made of silicone and are often heavy, uncomfortable, sweaty, and expensive. For women healing after a mastectomy or other breast procedures, implants can add discomfort to an area that is already tender and sore.
“Prostheses are heavy, they’re hot, and they can be expensive,” said Jennifer Sanders, Manager at Northwest Indiana Breast Care Center at Methodist Hospitals.
Barbara Demorest, founder of Knitted Knockers, had the same thought. The breast cancer survivor was unable to get reconstruction surgery due to complications and was looking for another option when her doctor gave her the pattern for what would become Knitted Knockers. Demorest’s friend knitted the prostheses, and the final product was a lightweight, soft prostheses that gives cancer survivors comfort.
Demorest would go on to create Knitted Knockers, which has expanded to 4,165 knitting groups around the country and overseas. Completely volunteer-run, the organization has knitted 287,307 knockers as of June 2021. Cheryl Kaper, who manages the Knitted Knockers of NWI Facebook group, estimates that she has knitted 2,000 since she first started volunteering.
“We have people who knit, some who crochet, and a dedicated group of women who stuff and package them,” Kaper said. “We also have a group of women who deliver them to the centers we partner with in Northwest Indiana. It’s completely volunteer-run.”
Knitted Knockers of NWI works with 18 health centers around the Region, including the Northwest Indiana Breast Care Center at Methodist Hospitals. A year and a half ago, the organization reached out to the center to offer their services.
“Knitted Knockers have been such a blessing,” Sanders said. “We’ve had women who use socks or scarves over the years. Knitted Knockers, on the other hand, are lightweight and really soft, they’re true to breast cup size, and they’re free. These have been such a great, easy product and solution for patients who don’t want or can’t afford reconstruction surgery.”
At Northwest Indiana Breast Care Center at Methodist Hospitals, Knitted Knockers have been very popular in the year and a half they’ve offered the product. They can be found at all three sites in Merrillville, Schererville, and Gary.
The prostheses come in all sizes and colors. Patients get to choose which size and color they want.
“We make them from size A to GH, and they come in all skin tones—white through pink, taupe, tans, dark brown, and black,” Kaper said.
If a woman should choose to get a tissue expander put in at a later date, her Knitted Knockers can be altered depending on her needs through the removal of stuffing.
Kaper emphasizes the importance of this service they provide women, remarking how the group works hard to ensure women have access to Knitted Knockers at the facilities when needed.
“Making these prostheses is all about supporting women who are on this journey,” Kaper said. “We want them to feel support from women right in their community, women that they have never even met. As soon as they need them after their mastectomy or procedure, women have access to Knitted Knockers to take home that day.”
Knitted Knockers of NWI is always looking for new volunteers to help with the knitting and crocheting, stuffing and packaging, or delivery throughout the Northwest Indiana area. For more information about the group and how to volunteer, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2011389919143861/.
For more information about Northwest Indiana Breast Care Center at Methodist Hospitals, visit the website at https://methodisthospitals.org/services/oncology-institute/breast-cancer-care/.
