A group of crafters gathered in Dorchester last Saturday (Aug. 10) to sew hand-made heart pillows that will be donated to breast cancer patients at the Breast Health Center at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. 

The group, hosted by Dorchester resident Denise Doherty, a founding board member of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) New England, sewed nearly 50 of the pillows, which are designed to provide comfort and support for patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. In addition to the physical support for post-surgery, the colorful pillows send a message of caring and hope.

The project was organized by the nonprofit organization IBC-New England Region to note the upcoming second annual Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Oct. 8.

Each year, one to five percent of all breast cancer patients are diagnosed with IBC, an aggressive form of the disease. IBC is the least understood type of the cancer and its symptoms are atypical, including the rapid onset of a red rash and skin changes.

“Crafting events like this one are a great way to bring people together to talk and share information,” said Sue Asci, a 24-year IBC survivor, founder of IBC New England. “It’s also a way to connect and offer some comfort to people on their cancer journey. We want to share hope.”

In 2023, the Legislature passed a bill creating a permanent IBC Awareness Day in Massachusetts on the second Tuesday of October. The bill, proposed by IBC New England and introduced by Rep. Sean Garballey (Arlington), was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker on his last day in office.