Breast Cancer Survivor Knits Comfort for Fellow Fighters

When Marthe Young scrolled through pages of uncomfortable breast prosthetics after her mastectomy, she knew there had to be a better option than sticky silicone or designs that looked like bowling balls. The 70-year-old Easthampton designer decided to create her own solution.

Young's breast cancer diagnosis came as a "total surprise." After surgery, she felt self-conscious returning to work, knowing colleagues would notice the change.

She enlisted her friend Alida Satterfield, who had also undergone a mastectomy after doctors caught 15 breast cancer cells. Both women described recovery as a strange process of caring for a body that didn't quite feel like their own.

Satterfield remembered the "team of women" at the hospital who held her hand through treatment. Their compassion inspired the pair to create something that could offer similar comfort to others.

Young drew on her background as a medical illustrator and weaving teacher to design the perfect prosthetic. After several trials, she perfected a soft, machine-washable, teardrop-shaped design with a fabric flap that securely attaches under bras.

When an early prototype shifted out of place and resembled a shoulder pad, Young adjusted the engineering. The final design allows users to customize the internal stuffing for their ideal shape and comes in every cup size.

She named her creation "My Bosom Buddy." "This is my way of giving back," Young said.

Sunny's Take

For Young and Satterfield, the best part is forgetting they're wearing their Bosom Buddies at all. "It sort of completes the process after surgery," Satterfield explained, noting how the solution helps survivors move forward without constant reminders of their cancer battle.

Young's first three customers embraced the invention with gratitude. Her physicians have told her more patients need to hear about this comfortable, dignified alternative.

"Whether you're on a cash register or whether you're a CEO, it doesn't matter. As a woman, you want to feel like a woman," Young said. "It gives you confidence."

When Young shares her creation at weaving classes and community gatherings, conversations quickly move beyond small talk. Fellow breast cancer survivors open up about their shared experiences, creating connections that matter.

"It's almost like a sisterhood, and I want to help the sisterhood," Young said, transforming her own difficult journey into comfort for others who walk the same path.