FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. It’s a disease that The National Cancer Institute says can lead to depression and anxiety, but one group in Florence is trying to combat that.
Ginny Jones says she and her group of knitters are working together to help women diagnosed with breast cancer feel normal again.
“Initially, after surgery, she’s (the patient) not able to wear a heavy prosthesis or anything with rubber next to the skin,” said Jones.
Breast cancer survivor Claudia Robbins says she knows what that discomfort after surgery is like, and that’s why she joined the group.
“When you’re going through chemo and well, radiation, too, you just want to feel normal. A lot of times, you have difficulty finding things that you can wear at that time that would make you comfortable,” said Robbins.
The soft yarn is stuffed with cotton and acts as a make-shift breast to wear inside the bra for women who have had their breasts removed.
Each knitted knocker takes about five to six hours to make. Right now, there are about ten women in the group making them, and best of all, they’re free of charge.
They are given out at Just for Her, a store inside the McLeod Cancer Center in Florence designed specifically for women with breast cancer.
Store owner Paige Williams says it’s part of the store’s mission to help women struggling with the disease in the community.
“To me, this business is more of a service. I feel like we’re here for the community more so than being a business because it’s about the people. It’s about serving the community more than anything,” said Williams.
“More women are going to unfortunately need something like this, and I just think if as a community we could be there to support them, it would be a really valuable thing,” said Robbins.
Right now, the women in the Knitted Knockers group are paying for the materials themselves and then donating the finished product.
If you would like to join or donate supplies to the group, contact Ole South Yarnworks in Florence at (843)615-7654. Or, stop by their shop at 1434 South Floyd Circle. The Knitted Knockers group meets there every Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:00-8:00.
