Chase resident Robyn Hoffman is pictured with her dog, Toby.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Robyn Hoffman

A woman in Chase has been knitting for almost a decade to support breast cancer survivors.

Robyn Hoffman makes Knitted Knockers — comfortable, handmade prostheses for women who have had a partial or complete surgical removal of their breasts.

“I think they’re unique, they come in different sizes and colours and are really quite light,” she said. “They’re versatile, comforting, comfortable and they fit in store bought bras."

Hoffman, 71, had a double mastectomy when she was 63 and understands how difficult the physical and emotional process is. She's one of numerous volunteers and breast cancer survivors all over the world making Knitted Knockers to help support others going through the same challenging journey. 

“The purpose is to make us feel whole again,” she said. “To wear the clothes that are comfortable and to have confidence. When you all of a sudden have nothing, the simplest T-shirt looks vacant when the bra is empty. Having an agency that is so sensitive with numerous caring volunteers available to support is really meaningful.”

Knitted Knockers are prostheses made for breast cancer survivors by volunteers.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Facebook/ Knitted Knockers

Hoffman’s history of lumpectomies, biopsies showing precancerous cells and a distant family history of breast cancer informed her decision to have the mastectomy. She said she’s happy with her choice. She could have chosen a reconstruction but decided against it, unwilling to take the risk of having implants in her body.

“The choice to have the reassurance that I won’t have to worry about breast cancer was easy to make. The fact I had a choice to go for reconstruction was also reassuring,” she said.

She learned about the knockers from a friend who was recovering from a double mastectomy from breast cancer, and being an avid knitter, crafter and crocheter, decided to join the cause. At first, she made some for herself.

“There are many cosmetic options available like mastectomy bras, prosthetics, traditional bras and bras with pockets for gel-like prosthetics, but the ones I tried were too hot and heavy to be comfortable,” she said. “The knitted ones are light, soft against the skin and comfortable.”

Knitted Knockers must be made out of approved yarn that is hypoallergenic and of good quality. Hoffman buys approved yarn at shops in Kelowna and Armstrong where she is often given discounts because of the cause.

“The yarn is specific because lots of women have sensitive skin from radiation,” she said. “The knitting instructions are really straight forward.”

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Hoffman carries a bag of needles and yarn with her everywhere she goes and knits while she waits for appointments. It takes her an afternoon to make one knocker. Each cup size comes in a certain diameter with the most common size being a C cup.

“Even woman that had a lumpectomy likes to have some filling because you are left with an imperfection in that breast.”

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To date, Hoffman has knit hundreds of the knockers. She mails them to the head office for Knitted Knockers in Ontario where they are stuffed and dispersed to cancer clinics around the country. The knockers are free and come in all different sizes and colours.

For Hoffman it’s a way of providing support and comfort to other women, and she often includes hand-written notes of encouragement with the knockers she ships for other women to read.

“I’ve lost many friends to breast cancer and friends who lost themselves fighting the disease," she said. "Cancer doesn’t just fade once you have a treatment plan, you have to be a strong individual to get through it.” 

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Hoffman is hoping to gather more volunteers and will provide materials, instructions and support for anyone who wants to join the cause.

She can be reached through email at robynleahhoffman@gmail.com.

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