Knitting needles make life easier for breast cancer survivors

Women who’ve gone through Mastectomy know the experience is life-altering.

There are a range of reconstruction options or they can ‘go flat.’

WOMEN WHO'VE GONE THROUGHMASTECTOMY KNOW, IT'S A LIFEALTERING EXPERIENCE.THEY HAVE A RANGE OFRECONSTRUCTION OPTIONS - ORTHEY CAN "GO FLAT." IFTHEY DO THAT, THEY MIGHT USEA SILICONE PROSTHESIS - BUT ASI LEARNED AT MERCY WEST --THAT'S NOT THEIR ONLY CHOICE.KNITTED KNOCKERS AND THEVOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE THEM FORBREAST CANCER SURVIVORS --ARE THE FOCUS OF THISPOSITIVELY CINCINNATI.AS THE BUGS BUZZED -- VICKIWRIGHT WORKED WITH A ZEN KINDOF CONCENTRATION.1:53 it helps yourelaxWE FOUND HER ON HER FRONTPORCH one LATE SUMMER DAY INROSS TOWNSHIP-- HERKNITTINGNEEDLES QUIETLY CLICKINGAWAY.:19 (subtle click click) Eachpair takes me 3 to 4hours...(let it tilt up tomove into next shot)WE'RE NOTTALKING SOCKS HERE...WHATVICKI'S DOINGIS kind of a LIFE LINE BACKTO NORMAL FOR WOMEN WHO WILLGET HER WORK.WOMEN LIKE SUEYATES --35:49 I find them tobe reallycomfortable...UNDER HERCLOTHES -- SUE IS WEARINGTHESE.THEY'RE CALLED KNITTEDKNOCKERS.BILLED AS SOFT,COMFORTABLE PROSTHETICS FORBREAST CANCER SURVIVORS --THEY CAME TO THE ATTENTION OFDR. ANNA SOBOLEWSKI -- ABREAST SURGEON AT MERCY WEST--THANKS TO A PATIENT WHO'D HADA DOUBLE MASTECTOMY.THAT WOMANLEARNED ABOUT THEM AT ASUPPORT GROUP -- and ditchedher heavier siliconeprostheses...26:17 When I saw her back inthe office for a visit, shepulled out the knitted knockerfrom her bra and said this isthe best thing ever.

08DR.SOBELEWSKI HEARD HER LOUD ANDCLEAR.WANTING TO GIVE HERSURVIVORS WHO OPTED OUT OFBREAST RECONSTRUCTION --OPTIONS -- SHE WENT TO THEAUXILIARY...45:58 And had asked me ifvolunteers would be interestedin doing a project likethis.THEY GOT ON IT -- KNITTING ALLDIFFERENT CUP SIZES WITHGUIDELINES...THEY HAVE TO BE100 PERCENT COTTON SO THEY'RESOFT AND DON'T IRRITATESURGICAL SCARS...AND THEY MUSTBE WASHABLE.VICKI LOVES THEWORK...SHE SAYS IT'S ANEXTENSION OF THE HEART OF HERGRANDMA MARGARET -- WHO TAUGHTHER HOW TOKNIT.She would be pleased, tooIt was passed down -- afamily tradition with love.LOVE SHE'S STITCHED INTO ABOUTFIFTYPAIRS...:31 And it's pretty soft andsmooth....SINCE SHE STARTEDTHE WORK LAST WINTER -- THAt'SMAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR WOMENWHO'VE GONE FLAT AFTERSURGERY..30:03 From an emotionalstandpoint, how do knittedknockers fill avoid?This is a tough journey forpatients.

We want to helpwith self imageafterwardsI think it's an appearancething...it's just all in howyou want to feel aboutyourself...how you wanna look.06AND HOW YOU WANT TOLIVE.they're morecomfortable...not as heavy asthe silicon.the silicone is in thecloset...it's in thecloset49:37 Women helpingwomen...that's what it's aboutwe're supposed to be lovingand serving each other...andwe get it done!ALL OF IT'S ACHOICE...AND OPTIONS ARE GOOD.WE'RE TELLING THIS STORYON THE EVE OF BREAST CANCERAWARENESS MONTH.

THEPANDEMIC MIGHT BE IN FULLSWING...BUT CANCER DOESN'TSTOP FOR IT.

AS A SURVIVORMYSELF, I WORK TO MAKE SUREOTHER SURVIVORS KNOW WHAT'SOUT THERE.

WE'LL BE TELLINGMORE STORIES LIKE THIS