Three Stories Behind Breast Cancer Scar Camouflage Tattoos
Going through breast cancer can leave a variety of scars, both physical and emotional. However, thanks to the talent of some very special tattoo artists, tattoos can help turn something painful into something beautiful. Many breast cancer survivors choose to have “camouflage tattoos” to cover up their surgical scars and/or cover the area where their nipples may have once been – or even replace the breasts in lieu of reconstruction. Read the stories behind the camouflage tattoos of three of our Ink 4 Pink tattoo recipients.
Molly Fulton
“I was diagnosed with stage 1 2b invasive ductal carcinoma on October 4, 2018.
I had been watched for years. I was having mammograms since my mid to late 30’s. I had a precancerous lump removed when I was 27 – this was in the same breast that I ended up getting cancer in when I was 48. I do not have any of the genetics for breast cancer even though my maternal grandmother also had breast cancer before 50.
After I was diagnosed, I had a double mastectomy with immediate implants. I would later in the next four years have four other revision surgeries to try to correct swelling and pain on my left side. It was discovered I had a nerve nicked and a pec muscle damaged from my first surgery. I went through nerve injections and pec muscle injections to try to calm the pain and swelling. Nothing worked. In October of 2022, I had my implants removed and I went aesthetically flat. I was given Botox injections at the time of surgery in hopes of calming the nerve and pec muscle so I could heal.
The cherry blossom and Phoenix tattoo I got from Anne Winslow at Hellbrook Ink represent me and all I have been through. Cherry blossoms are for the fragility of life and how things can change in a heartbeat. It reminds me to love the beauty of today. The Phoenix represents me rising from the ashes through all the struggles I have been through and being stronger and feeling beautiful in who I am today.”
Carol Lovely
“Once I decided against having a very involved breast reconstruction surgery it wasn’t long before I was considering a tattoo. I tried to embrace just being flat, but when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t like what I saw. I had numerous scars from a double mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection, IV ports and skin changes from radiation. I came across some photos of women who had chest tattoos to cover their surgical scars. The tattoos were beautiful, and I knew this was the solution I was looking for.
I wanted my tattoo to include my favorite flower of magnolia blossoms and leaves; a sea turtle and octopus for my love of the ocean; and a Celtic design. My talented artist Tegan Beyer at 5 Monkeys Tattoo in Newmarket, NH pulled all of my ideas together. I’ve had four sessions so far and will probably need three more to complete the work.
Looking in the mirror is becoming easier. I feel like I can finally take a deep breath knowing that the vision that I’ve had for so long is actually coming true.
Thank you to Ink 4 Pink for helping to make this very important part of my breast cancer recovery possible. I am forever grateful.”
Jessica Harris
“I got my first tattoo when I turned 18 in a dark tattoo studio with my two best friends. We stood in our Catholic school clothes, and I pointed to a generic tattoo on the wall: “That one.” Eighteen years later, I got my second tattoo after a cab took me and my husband from Bourbon Street to the 9th ward in New Orleans at 3 a.m. for matching ink.
After these lapses in judgment, I didn’t give much thought to getting another tattoo until the day I found myself sitting in a doctor’s office at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Double mastectomy, flat or strait to implant, lymph node testing, at least two surgeries, tissue expanders, nerve damage, side effects, physical therapy.” I was trying to focus on something so I wouldn’t feel so lightheaded as the doctor spoke. I turned over the pamphlets in my hand and stopped on one about areola tattooing – I could not believe those were really made of ink. I stared at the artist’s work and felt myself grounded in the room again.
After my double mastectomy, I thought I would be proud of my scars and wear them like a badge of honor. “Look what I’ve been through.” The truth was, I hated how they looked so I made the decision to get scar camouflaging tattoos.
In my journey, cancer was first evident in my nipples, so the idea of symbolically putting them back onto my body wasn’t right for me. I decided to lean into art. I knew I wanted something feminine, a healing garden of flowers. One side of my body would represent the people who loved me through this time and the other side would be just for me.
On the right: Roses and honeysuckle for my husband and daughter, an iris for my son, cosmos and marigolds for the month of my wedding.
On the left, the side where cancer first made itself known: Water lilies for the lake I grew up swimming in, gerbera daisies for my wedding bouquet, lilacs for the first scent of warmer months, morning glory and aster for the month of my birth.
Now I needed an artist. Female, stylistically right for me and experienced in scar coverage. Google brought me to Tegan Beyer at 5 Monkeys Tattoo and to a nonprofit that I had never heard of, Ink 4 Pink. I sent an inquiry to Tegan and filled out an application to have part of my healing garden sponsored by Ink 4 Pink.
Today, I am still a work in progress. I am so grateful for this art and the people who made it possible. My scars are still there but I no longer hate how they look, hidden in the leaves and flowers.”
If you or someone you know are interested in getting a breast cancer scar camouflage tattoo, then contact us today.
