Free Mastectomy Pillows

Photo By Kim Harms

I used several breast cancer specific supplies as I recovered from my bilateral mastectomy earlier this year.

Some were useful- like the above mastectomy pillows.

Some were not- like the two post-mastectomy camis that someone convinced my husband I needed for $70 a piece. And they gave him their sales pitch when he was in the hospital waiting room during my surgery. Oh My Word! Leave the poor men alone while their wives are in having their breasts removed! I’m still a little perturbed by that.

My mom and two of her friends have started making mastectomy pillows to give away FREE to women who need them. The three women have each had daughters diagnosed with cancer this year (2 breast, 1 skin). And the three of them also love Jesus and when he gives them an idea for serve others, they follow through.

These pillows fit snuggly in your armpit, providing a cushion between your arm and your sore chest after surgery. I used mine for about three weeks post-mastectomy, and they really did relieve the pressure. Each pillow is made of fleece so they won’t slide around in your armpit. You can buy mastectomy pillows online for anywhere from $20-$50, but mom and her friends are providing them for free.

If you or someone you know could use a mastectomy pillow, contact me through the form below. (I’ve had some technical issue with the form, so if you don’t hear back from me within 48 hours, email me at kimharms@rocketmail.com.

 

By KimHarms

Kim Harms is an author, speaker, and part-time library assistant with two decades of freelance writing experience. She has a degree in English from Iowa State University. She and her husband Corey have three super-awesome sons and one crazy dog. A two-time breast cancer survivor, her first book, Life Reconstructed: Navigating the World of Mastectomies and Breast Reconstruction (Familius), is a guide for women walking the breast cancer road. She is currently working on her second book, a devotional for women going through breast cancer.

37 comments

  1. This is awesome Kim! The Breast Health Ctr in Mason City provides these pillows for all breast cancer surgery women. It was helpful to keep my arm elevated, to reduce contact between arm and breast, etc and now it is just a really nice pillow for a nap or for your car.

    1. Well this is a long time now I hope you regifted it to another masctomy person in need and didn’t use as a reg pillow? I just made one since you can’t buy them for a friend.

      1. I apologize that this message somehow how go lost in the shuffle. I am just seeing it for the first time now. I hope that your surgery and recovery went smoothly, and I’m glad you were able to make a pillow.

  2. I would live the free pillows , I have to have double Mastectomy on Oct 31 st. Cindy Miller 438 north Villa Parkersburg WV 36104 thank you! God Bless!

  3. My sister is having a double mastectomy on November 1, 2016. I looked up pillows on line and they can run up to $80!. She could surely use a pillow.

  4. Hi Kim, I was diagnosed BRCA 2 this summer and I am going to have the preventative double mastectomy I was looking for pillows to buy and would be willing to donate $ to your mom a her friends what a wonderful thing they are doing…God bless

    1. Sandy, I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis. My mom would be happy to send you a set of pillows free of charge. She just really wants to be a blessing to women who are going through what I went through. You can either reply to this message with a shipping address or send me an email at kimharms@rocketmail.com with your address. I pray your surgery and recovery go smoothly.

  5. Kim
    I am so glad that I was able to find your blog. I work for a pain specialist. We currently have two ladies in our office that have had breast surgery. I feel for them as my daughter had double breast surgery last year. I would like to get pillows for these ladies.

    1. My mom would love to send pillows to you. If you send me the address you’d like to have them mailed to and let me know whether the women each need a set of pillows or just one pillow each, I’ll pass the info along, and they will be shipped shortly.

  6. I will be having a mastectomy on January 9th and would really appreciate a pillow! I have been really trying to figure out what I can use post op for comfort and these pillows have great reviews! It’s crazy how much money you have to put out between copays and supplies so finding this is much appreciated 🙂

    1. My mom would love to send you a pillow or set of pillows. Just let me know whether you need one or two and provide a shipping address, and she’ll send you what you need. I pray your surgery and recovery go smoothly.

      1. Thank you so much! I would like to request 2. One for myself and 1 for my friend facing a mastectomy in March. My address is:
        Lisa Hnath
        3304 MacIntyre Dr
        Murrysville, PA 15668

        Thank you!!!!

  7. Kim, I will be having a double mastectomy in Jan / Feb 2017. Find out tomorrow on date. I would love 2 of these pillows. I agree that some of these supplies are very expensive and not sure if needed. Thank you in advance for these pillows. Address: 11609 Gurd Road Delton, MI 49046

    1. Susan, I forwarded your address to my mom, so you should expect to see some pillows in the next week or so. I pray that surgery and recovery go well. I’m coming up on the year anniversary of my diagnosis. It’s hard stuff, but God was so good to me. And still is.

  8. Hi Kim, I came across your blog by typing in free mastectomy pillows. I don’t know if your mom is still doing the pillows but if so I was wondering if I could get 2 of them please? I’m having a dbl mastectomy.
    My address is 3535 Roberts Ave Lot 309
    Tallahassee Fl 32310.
    Thanks.

    1. Yes, mom is still making pillows and giving them away. I will forward your info to her. I would expect that she will get them shipped by the beginning of next week. I pray that your surgery and recovery go smoothly.

  9. I have just had my bilateral mastectomy last Thursday and I wish I would have had these pillows before. I would still love to have some if you still have your mom make them. Also, I will be doing chemo in about 3to 4 weeks, any specific stuff I should get for that. It will be 4 doses of Adriamyin once every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. Then I will have taxol once a week for 12 weeks. Thanks for the things you and you mother do for us breast cancer patients. God Bless you and your mother. Thank you so much for reading this and have a blessed day.
    Laura Scott 31

    1. Thanks for contacting me Laura. I pray your recovery is going well and that your body will also tolerate chemo well. I did not have to go through chemo, but I have a friend going through it right now. If she passes along and specifics about things that have helped her, I will let you know. If you send me your address, I will forward it to my mom and she will get some pillows out to you. You can either reply to this message with your address or send it via email to kimharms@rocketmail.com

  10. Kim, I am having both removed and reconstruction done…what is best kind of pillow to get?

    1. You will want two mastectomy pillows. They are a kind of heart shaped pillow mom makes out of a fleece material and they are wonderful to have your armpits as you are recovering. If you send me your address, we can get a couple shipped to you.

  11. I found out earlier this week that my neighbor is having a double mastectomy next week. Is your mom sill making the pillows? What a blessing to women going through this.

  12. Hi My sister was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and scheduled for a double mastectomy and wondering how I can order her a pillow and donate also.

  13. I am having a double mastectomy and had no idea that I needed pillows.if it possible and you have extra pillows I sure could use it.

  14. My wife is having a double mastectomy after fighting cancer for the last 12 years. Endless biopies, mamograms, MRI’s . . . she is tired. Her last biopsy came back positive and she has decided against a lumpectomy. She gets her surgery date tomorrow. If you have any pillows left we would be eternally grateful. M Tully, 501 Oakland Ct, Kennett Sq PA 19348. Thank you and best wishes to all on their journey.

    1. Mark, I’m sorry to hear that your wife has had such a long cancer road! That is so hard. My mom would be more than happy to send pillows to you. I will forward your address along to her and she will likely get them sent at the beginning of next week. I pray your wife’s surgery and recovery go smoothly. Kim

  15. I just wanted to say thank you so much for my pillows! They are so comfortable tucked under my arms. I can’t thank the beautiful women who make and donate these. You are all angels!

    1. Thank you Gretchen. I’m so glad they work well for you. And you are right, my mom and her friends are pretty amazing 🙂

  16. This would be so helpful after my double prophilactic mastectomy im having in September. Thank you so much for your compassion and healing hearts

    1. Tina, I apologize that I just saw this request for pillows. Did you fill out a request form? If not, head over to the Free Mastectomy PIllows tab at the top of my website and fill out the request. We’d be happy to send pillows to you.

  17. No matter what your natural sleep position tendencies are, as your baby begins to grow you will most likely find yourself having to adjust your comfort to accommodate your changing body. Most women find that a side sleeping position becomes the easiest, and most comfortable, position to rest within- and most pregnancy pillows are constructed to help you rest in such a manner.

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