Today begins Pink October, to raise awareness about breast cancer. We devote our new format to it, which selects our favorite good news every week.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Its treatment can cause a lot of changes in self-perception. The good news of the week is therefore devoted to initiatives that help women with the disease to cope with the disease as well as possible!
- Good news # 1: There are knitted breast forms.
Responding to the adorable name of knitted boobs for the wool version or cotton nipple for its crochet edition, the Knitted Knockers initiative claims to be both playful and supportive. The association was born in the United States in 2011 thanks to Barbara Demorest. This woman with breast cancer undergoes a mastectomy and cannot benefit from reconstructive surgery. It is her best friend who gives her a prosthesis, which she knitted especially for Barbara. The idea was born to make them in knitting or crochet for all those who need it. In France, it was Ludmila Cavallo who founded the French branch of this initiative. The idea is imported from the United States by her best friend, who gives her a knitted prosthesis after her mastectomy. “This prosthesis gave me comfort and support, knowing that someone had taken the time to knit this for me” recounts Ludmila. She says that in France, women have the right to only one breast prosthesis covered by social security. However, it has a medical aspect, is complicated to clean. “When you put it on, you feel even sicker” according to Ludmila. It also requires special lingerie, which is often expensive and does not allow you to bathe. Knitted prostheses “with love” by Knitted Knockers are personalized by knitters, slip into a regular bra, wash in the washing machine, and come in acrylic to fit into a swimsuit. Knitted Knockers provides several. Ludmila spent the summer swimming in Greece with her prosthesis. She sums up the purpose of her association: to alleviate the suffering of those living with cancer, to make their lives easier, and to make them happy as she is. The association celebrates its one year anniversary on October 7, 2021. Knitted Knockers works with partner hospitals in France so that their patients can benefit from it.
How can we help them? You can reach them by contacting them directly, in order to be trained in their knitting and crochet techniques, and their strict quality requirements. “Everyone knits at their own pace”, while ensuring a sufficient stock, explains Ludmila. If you are not particularly skilled, you can also make a donation to the association, either financial or in kind in a partner haberdashery. You can also contact the association if you wish to be a one-off volunteer, “Any help is welcome”, recalls Ludmila.
Pink October: beauty workshops directly at your home
- Good news n ° 2: you can re-learn how to take care of your skin by video
The Belle et Bien association offers video lessons to learn how to take care of your skin during treatments. Indeed, the skin changes a lot with the disease, and we can feel helpless in the face of the side effects of the treatments.
With volunteers who are also beauty professionals, you can learn the right hydration and makeup skills.
- Good news # 3: the sooner cancer is detected, the sooner it is treated
This is Alice Detollenaere’s message: “the sooner a cancer is detected, the sooner it will be cured”. Today it is his desire and his responsibility to continue to talk about it to prevent young women, explains the one who underwent a mastectomy at less than 30 years old. “This story can be that of any of us, so let’s always speak up, without taboos and united”, recalls Camille Lacourt’s companion. She raises awareness on Instagram about the importance of regular screening. In addition to these, you can have recourse to self-palpation.