After a mastectomy, many women face difficulties finding comfortable breast prostheses. In Mumbai, Jayashri Ratan began knitting soft prostheses for survivors who could not afford silicone options.
She explains her decision by saying that women feel intense pressure to look a certain way and are forced to endure pain after traumatic surgery. This is why she decided to create crochet or knitted prostheses.
She founded Saaisha India, a volunteer organization that manufactures these prostheses. Since 2018, her volunteers have been providing them to women completely free of charge.
Without the option of using silicone prostheses, many women resorted to using scarves and cotton balls inside their bras. This practice could lead to irritation, infections, and painful skin damage.
The prostheses are made from 100% mercerized cotton yarn, making them soft on the skin and hypoallergenic. Each prosthesis is designed to last almost two years and is machine washable.
These prostheses are available in various cup sizes and are well-suited for post-mastectomy bras, offering women an alternative to using scarves and cotton balls.
Jayashri notes that their greatest reward is the ability to touch many lives by spending only a few hours producing each item. Her volunteers help continue this work.
Saaisha's activities have expanded significantly over the years. According to the organization's official website, 32,468 prostheses have been distributed by August 2026, all provided free of charge. Additionally, the organization has manufactured 3,580 hats.
What started with a few hours of working with yarn has turned into a volunteer movement that provides handmade items to women after mastectomy.