Pierson Receives Breast Cancer Advocate Award
TUPELO, Mississippi—North Mississippi Health Services Cancer Care has awarded Carol Pierson the 2024 Breast Cancer Advocate Award.
Pierson, a breast cancer survivor from Pontotoc, volunteers her time and talents with Knitted Knockers, a national organization that provides free handmade prostheses for women after breast cancer surgery. Pierson helps coordinate local knitters and crocheters to make the protheses and shares them with breast cancer survivors through oncology, medical imaging and surgery practices in Tupelo and New Albany.
“Ms. Pierson has taken her personal experience with breast cancer and used it as her passion to help breast cancer patients in their journey,” said Alison Christopher, Cancer Care oncology nurse navigator for breast cancer. “The late Dr. Charles Montgomery envisioned this award to honor the efforts of dedicated individuals in the fight against breast cancer and Ms. Pierson is doing just that.”
Pierson was diagnosed with Stage 2, triple negative breast cancer in June 2020. She received chemotherapy at North Mississippi Medical Center Hematology Oncology. Breast cancer surgeon Dr. Danny Sanders performed her mastectomy at NMMC.
It was through Dr. Sanders’ office that she found out about Knitted Knockers. Depending on when, or if, women chose reconstruction surgery after the removal of breast tissue, they may use protheses to fill in the shape of a breast under their clothing and prevent problems with balance. The Knitted Knockers, which are made by volunteers across the country and shared internationally, are soft and lightweight. Pierson said they were just what she needed after her mastectomy.
Pierson is active with the NeedleArts Knitters and the Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers; women in those groups supported her and her family during her breast cancer journey. She called on them to assist with a local effort for Knitted Knockers.
“I got on the band wagon,” Pierson said. “I decided I’m going to try to get as many of them out there as I can.”
The Breast Cancer Advocate Award is given annually. It was founded by the late Dr. Montgomery and now retired oncologists Dr. Julian Hill and Dr. Andrew Kellum. Nominations are accepted year-round; more information is available at nmhs.net/breast-cancer-advocate-award.
