LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Breast cancer was the second-leading cancer for new cases this year in Kentucky. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're highlighting a group of knitters that are making a difference for survivors.

The American Cancer Society reports nearly 4,000 new cases in women and 640 deaths from breast cancer in 2022. That’s why a group of women is on a mission to help each other.

“It’s a breast prosthesis that’s a lot softer,” said Rose Mary Wargel, who knits for the group.

She and others in Louisville have knitted almost 1,100 pieces.

The group has crafted nearly 1,100 Knitted Knockers. (Spectrum News 1/Khyati Patel)

“It’s for breast cancer patients who have had mastectomies,” Wargel said.

They’re called Knitted Knockers. Wargel and others volunteer to knit or crochet to benefit breast cancer survivors.

“In the early days after surgery, the skin generally is very tender and the women have a hard time finding anything to use,” Wargel said.

Wargel said she knits because she receives joy from the thank-you notes, but it hits deeper to her.

“My first sister that had breast cancer just went on had a mastectomy and then 13 years later, another spot showed up on the other breast. And it wasn’t the same kind of cancer that the first one was, and she opted for mastectomy again and then I gave her a pair,” Wargel said. 

She began knitting these in 2017 and said she takes about a day or two to finish a pair, depending on the size.

“We’ve had women [who ask] you got red ones? You know, are how about some striped ones? and those are few and far between, but it’s still there daring, and you’d like to be able to fulfill,” Wargel said.

The Louisville group knits at no charge and donates the pair to breast cancer survivors and to cancer hospitals and organizations in Kentucky. You can contact them at ​​knockerknitterslouky@gmail.com.