Introduction
Video
Ask FOR THOSE THAT HAVE FAR ASK FOR THOSE THAT HAVE, FAR, BREAST, CANCER, AND, WON, MANY, HAVE, ASK, FOR, THOSE, THAT, HAVE, FAR, BREAST, CANCER, AND, WON, MANY, HAVE, BATTLE, SCARS., BREAST, CANCER, AND, WON, MANY, HAVE, BATTLE, SCARS., >>, AND, MASTECTOMY, AND, BATTLE, SCARS., >>, AND, MASTECTOMY, AND, RECONSTRUCTIVE, SURGERY, IS, MANY, >>, AND, MASTECTOMY, AND, RECONSTRUCTIVE, SURGERY, IS, MANY, TIMES, NEEDED., RECONSTRUCTIVE, SURGERY, IS, MANY, TIMES, NEEDED., WE, HAVE, A, TATTOO, ARTIST, TIMES, NEEDED., WE, HAVE, A, TATTOO, ARTIST, HELPING., WE, HAVE, A, TATTOO, ARTIST, HELPING., >>, RESTORING, CONFIDENCE, ONE, HELPING., >>, RESTORING, CONFIDENCE, ONE, TATTOO, AT, A, TIME., >>, RESTORING, CONFIDENCE, ONE, TATTOO, AT, A, TIME., >>, SOMEONE, IN, THE, OFFICE, CALLED, TATTOO, AT, A, TIME., >>, SOMEONE, IN, THE, OFFICE, CALLED, AND, SAID, YOU, HAVE, TO, COME, >>, SOMEONE, IN, THE, OFFICE, CALLED, AND, SAID, YOU, HAVE, TO, COME, TOMORROW, MORNING, AT, 7:30, A.M., AND, SAID, YOU, HAVE, TO, COME, TOMORROW, MORNING, AT, 7:30, A.M., AND, BRING, A, FAMILY, MEMBER., TOMORROW, MORNING, AT, 7:30, A.M., AND, BRING, A, FAMILY, MEMBER., WELL, SO, RIGHT, AWAY, I, KNEW, IT, AND, BRING, A, FAMILY, MEMBER., WELL, SO, RIGHT, AWAY, I, KNEW, IT, HAS, TO, BE, BREAST, CANCER., WELL, SO RIGHT AWAY I KNEW IT HAS TO BE BREAST, CANCER., >>, IN, 2008, PATTY, WAS, DIAGNOSED, HAS, TO, BE, BREAST, CANCER., >>, IN, 2008, PATTY, WAS, DIAGNOSED, WITH, STAGE, III, BREAST, CANCER., >>, IN, 2008, PATTY, WAS, DIAGNOSED, WITH, STAGE, III, BREAST, CANCER., >>, I, WENT, AND, HAD, A, MAMMOGRAM., WITH, STAGE, III, BREAST, CANCER., >>, I, WENT, AND, HAD, A, MAMMOGRAM., THEN, I, HAD, AN, ULTRASOUND., >>, I, WENT, AND, HAD, A, MAMMOGRAM., THEN, I, HAD, AN, ULTRASOUND., AND, IT, DIDN’T, SHOW, ANYTHING, THEN, I, HAD, AN, ULTRASOUND., AND, IT, DIDN’T, SHOW, ANYTHING, JUST, PART, OF, MY, REGULAR, AND, IT, DIDN’T, SHOW, ANYTHING, JUST, PART, OF, MY, REGULAR, EXAMINATION., JUST, PART, OF, MY, REGULAR, EXAMINATION., >>, TWO, WEEK, LATER, TAKING, A, EXAMINATION., >>, TWO, WEEK, LATER, TAKING, A, SHOWER, SHE, FELT, SOMETHING., >>, TWO, WEEK, LATER, TAKING, A, SHOWER, SHE, FELT, SOMETHING., A, SMALL, LUMP., SHOWER, SHE, FELT, SOMETHING., A, SMALL, LUMP., >>, I, WENT, BACK, TO, THE, DR., AND, A, SMALL, LUMP., >>, I, WENT, BACK, TO, THE, DR., AND, HE, SAID, LET’S, DO, A, BIOPSY., >>, I, WENT, BACK, TO, THE, DR., AND, HE, SAID, LET’S, DO, A, BIOPSY., >>, THEN, CAME, CHEMO, RADIATION, HE SAID LET’s DO A BIOPSY.
>> THEN CAME CHEMO, RADIATION, AND, EVENTUALLY, A, MASTECTOMY., >>, THEN, CAME, CHEMO, RADIATION, AND, EVENTUALLY, A, MASTECTOMY., >>, ONCE, IT’S, REMOVED, YOU, JUST, AND, EVENTUALLY, A, MASTECTOMY., >>, ONCE, IT’S, REMOVED, YOU, JUST, DON’T, FEEL, THE, SAME, YOU, DON’T, >>, ONCE, IT’S, REMOVED, YOU, JUST, DON’T, FEEL, THE, SAME, YOU, DON’T, FEEL, LIKE, A, WOMAN, ANYMORE., DON’T, FEEL, THE, SAME, YOU, DON’T, FEEL, LIKE, A, WOMAN, ANYMORE., YOU, HAVE, SCARS, ALL, OVER., FEEL, LIKE, A, WOMAN, ANYMORE., YOU, HAVE, SCARS, ALL, OVER., >>, A, COUPLE, YEARS, AGO, PATTY, YOU, HAVE, SCARS, ALL, OVER., >>, A, COUPLE, YEARS, AGO, PATTY, UNDERWENT, RECONSTRUCTIVE, >>, A, COUPLE, YEARS, AGO, PATTY, UNDERWENT, RECONSTRUCTIVE, SURGERY., UNDERWENT, RECONSTRUCTIVE, SURGERY., >>, IT, TOOK, LIKE, TWO, YEARS, TO, GO, SURGERY., >>, IT, TOOK, LIKE, TWO, YEARS, TO, GO, THROUGH, IT., >>, IT, TOOK, LIKE, TWO, YEARS, TO, GO, THROUGH, IT., AND, WHEN, I, WAS, FINISHED, WITH, THROUGH, IT., AND, WHEN, I, WAS, FINISHED, WITH, THAT, IT, WAS, TIME, FOR, ME, TO, HAVE, AND, WHEN, I, WAS, FINISHED, WITH, THAT, IT, WAS, TIME, FOR, ME, TO, HAVE, MY, 3D, NIPPLE, TATTOOS., THAT, IT, WAS, TIME, FOR, ME, TO, HAVE, MY, 3D, NIPPLE TATTOOS.
I WENT TO MY DR.
AND I SAID MY, 3D, NIPPLE, TATTOOS., I, WENT, TO, MY, DR., AND, I, SAID, WHERE, DO, I, GO, FOR, THAT?, I, WENT, TO, MY, DR., AND, I, SAID, WHERE, DO, I, GO, FOR, THAT?, >>, HE, REFERRED, PATTY, TO, SOMEONE, WHERE, DO, I, GO, FOR, THAT?, >>, HE, REFERRED, PATTY, TO, SOMEONE, IN, JACKSONVILLE., >>, HE, REFERRED, PATTY, TO, SOMEONE, IN, JACKSONVILLE., TOO, FAR, SHE, THOUGHT, SO, SHE, DID, IN, JACKSONVILLE., TOO, FAR, SHE, THOUGHT, SO, SHE, DID, SOME, RESEARCH, AND, ANOTHER, DR., TOO, FAR, SHE, THOUGHT, SO, SHE, DID, SOME, RESEARCH, AND, ANOTHER, DR., MENTIONED, STACY, BECKER., SOME, RESEARCH, AND, ANOTHER, DR., MENTIONED, STACY, BECKER., A, TATTOO, ARTIST, AND, ALTAMONTE, MENTIONED, STACY, BECKER., A, TATTOO, ARTIST, AND, ALTAMONTE, SPRINGS., A, TATTOO, ARTIST, AND, ALTAMONTE, SPRINGS., >>, MY, RESPONSIBILITY, IN, THAT, SPRINGS., >>, MY, RESPONSIBILITY, IN, THAT, PART, WOULD, BE, TO, ADD, COLOR, >>, MY, RESPONSIBILITY, IN, THAT, PART, WOULD, BE, TO, ADD, COLOR, MAINLY, TO, THE, AERIAL, APPEARED, PART, WOULD, BE, TO, ADD, COLOR, MAINLY, TO, THE, AERIAL, APPEARED, WE, HAD, A, LITTLE, COLOR, AROUND, MAINLY, TO, THE, AERIAL, APPEARED, WE, HAD, A, LITTLE, COLOR, AROUND, OF, IT, IS, TRYING, TO CREATE WE HAD A LITTLE COLOR AROUND OF IT IS, TRYING, TO, CREATE, TEXTURES., OF, IT, IS, TRYING, TO, CREATE, TEXTURES., SOME, WOMEN, HAVE, -- WE, COULD, DO, TEXTURES., SOME, WOMEN, HAVE, -- WE, COULD, DO, A, LITTLE, SMOOTHER., SOME, WOMEN, HAVE, -- WE, COULD, DO, A, LITTLE, SMOOTHER., >>, BECKER, HAS, BEEN, A, TATTOO, A, LITTLE, SMOOTHER., >>, BECKER, HAS, BEEN, A, TATTOO, ARTIST, FOR, 12, YEARS., >>, BECKER, HAS, BEEN, A, TATTOO, ARTIST, FOR, 12, YEARS., >>, SPORADICALLY, THROUGH, THE, ARTIST, FOR, 12, YEARS., >>, SPORADICALLY, THROUGH, THE, TROUSERS, HAVE, BEEN, RANDOMLY, >>, SPORADICALLY, THROUGH, THE, TROUSERS, HAVE, BEEN, RANDOMLY, ASKED, HERE, AND, THERE, TO, DO, TROUSERS, HAVE, BEEN, RANDOMLY, ASKED, HERE, AND, THERE, TO, DO, THESE, KINDS, OF, TATTOOS, FOR, ASKED, HERE, AND, THERE, TO, DO, THESE, KINDS, OF, TATTOOS, FOR, SURVIVORS., THESE, KINDS, OF, TATTOOS, FOR, SURVIVORS., I, KNEW, THAT, THERE, WAS, A, VOID, IN, SURVIVORS., I, KNEW, THAT, THERE, WAS, A, VOID, IN, THE, MEDICAL, COMMUNITY., I, KNEW, THAT, THERE, WAS, A, VOID, IN, THE, MEDICAL, COMMUNITY., >>, INSIDE, HER, TATTOO, SHOP, THE, MEDICAL, COMMUNITY., >>, INSIDE, HER, TATTOO, SHOP, PATTY, SAYS, SHE, GOT, A, SENSE, OF, >>, INSIDE, HER, TATTOO, SHOP, PATTY, SAYS SHE GOT A SENSE OF FEMININITY BACK.
PATTY SAYS SHE, GOT, A, SENSE, OF, FEMININITY, BACK., >>, WITH, A, REALISTIC, 3D, NIPPLE., FEMININITY, BACK., >>, WITH, A, REALISTIC, 3D, NIPPLE., SINCE, SHE, OPTED, NOT, TO, HAVE, >>, WITH, A, REALISTIC, 3D, NIPPLE., SINCE, SHE, OPTED, NOT, TO, HAVE, NIPPLE, RECONSTRUCTION., SINCE, SHE, OPTED, NOT, TO, HAVE, NIPPLE, RECONSTRUCTION., AS, YOU, CAN, SEE, EDISON, LITTLE, NIPPLE, RECONSTRUCTION., AS, YOU, CAN, SEE, EDISON, LITTLE, KINDA, GIVES, THE, LOOKS, OF, AS, YOU, CAN, SEE, EDISON, LITTLE, KINDA, GIVES, THE, LOOKS, OF, SOMETHING, THAT, IS, PROTRUDING., KINDA, GIVES, THE, LOOKS, OF, SOMETHING, THAT, IS, PROTRUDING., LIKE, AFTER, SHE, WAS, DONE, WITH, SOMETHING, THAT, IS, PROTRUDING., LIKE, AFTER, SHE, WAS, DONE, WITH, THE, TATTOO, THAT, YOU, SAW, LIKE, AFTER, SHE, WAS, DONE, WITH, THE, TATTOO, THAT, YOU, SAW, YOURSELF, IN, THE, MIRROR?, THE, TATTOO, THAT, YOU, SAW, YOURSELF, IN, THE, MIRROR?, >>, IT, WAS, JUST, AMAZING., YOURSELF, IN, THE, MIRROR?, >>, IT, WAS, JUST, AMAZING., BECAUSE, SHE, IS, VANISHED, I, WENT, >>, IT, WAS, JUST, AMAZING., BECAUSE, SHE, IS, VANISHED, I, WENT, TO, A, GLIMMER, TO, MAKE, SURE, BECAUSE, SHE, IS, VANISHED, I, WENT, TO, A, GLIMMER, TO, MAKE, SURE, EVERYTHING, WAS, EVEN, AND I WENT, TO A GLIMMER TO MAKE, SURE, EVERYTHING, WAS, EVEN, AND, I, WENT, MY, GOSH!, EVERYTHING, WAS, EVEN, AND, I, WENT, MY, GOSH!, YOU, ARE, WONDERFUL!, MY, GOSH!, YOU, ARE, WONDERFUL!, I, COULD, NOT, BELIEVE, IT., YOU, ARE, WONDERFUL!, I, COULD, NOT, BELIEVE, IT., I, WAS, SO, EXCITED., I, COULD, NOT, BELIEVE, IT., I, WAS, SO, EXCITED., IT, REMINDED, ME, OF, THE, FIRST, DAY, I, WAS, SO, EXCITED., IT, REMINDED, ME, OF, THE, FIRST, DAY, WHEN, I, LOOKED, AND, I, HAD, BREASTS, IT, REMINDED, ME, OF, THE, FIRST, DAY, WHEN, I, LOOKED, AND, I, HAD, BREASTS, AGAIN., WHEN, I, LOOKED, AND, I, HAD, BREASTS, AGAIN., >>, IT’S, A, WHOLE, DIFFERENT, AGAIN., >>, IT’S, A, WHOLE, DIFFERENT, LEVEL., >>, IT’S, A, WHOLE, DIFFERENT, LEVEL., THIS, ISN’T, SOMETHING, THAT, LEVEL., THIS, ISN’T, SOMETHING, THAT, SOMEONE, IS, GETTING, JUST, BECAUSE.
FAQs
Who is the tattoo artist that does nipples for breast cancer survivors? ›
— Brock Steven owns Rockstar Tattoo Company in West Allis, Wis. He's been a tattoo artist for 20 years and was known for his black and gray art. But that's changed. He's specialized in three-dimensional nipple and areola tattooing for the past eight years.
What are the tattoo dots for breast cancer? ›If a survivor must go through radiation she/he will be left with permanent tattooed radiation markers/dots, which are either blue or black. They are an important marker for accurate radiation treatments. However, survivors often dislike the lingering tattooed dots because they are a reminder of their cancer.
How long after cancer treatment can you get a tattoo? ›When can I get a tattoo? Before getting a tattoo your operation sites need to be completely healed. This takes around a year, but ideally you should leave it at little longer before getting a tattoo. You should have also finished any chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment.
What is a mastectomy tattoo? ›Mastectomy Tattoo: a tattoo that is drawn on top of the mastectomy site, usually to cover mastectomy scars – includes both restorative tattoos (restoring the nipple/areola) and decorative pieces (non-anatomic) of various sizes.
What is the symbol for breast cancer survivor? ›During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and throughout the year—people wear pink ribbons to honor survivors, remember those lost to the disease, and to support the progress we are making together to defeat breast cancer.
Why do cancer survivors get tattoos? ›Some survivors choose to commemorate their cancer battle with a tattoo. It's a personal and symbolic gesture for these survivors, and they often incorporate a ribbon with the color associated with their cancer type in their tattoo. For instance, breast cancer patients may get a pink ribbon tattoo.
What does 3 dots tattoo on wrist mean? ›The three dots used to represent the phrase “mi vida loca”, which means “my crazy life” in Spanish, signified a willingness to live a life of crime and violence. But today, it can simply remind you to live your best life. Where do you see the three dots the most?
What does 3 dots 3 lines tattoo mean? ›The three dots tattoo represents “Mi Vida Loca,” which translates to “my crazy life.” It often means the struggles of the underprivileged and the minorities. It's a way of saying, “my life is crazy, but I'm thankful for it,” or “life may be crazy, but I'm still here.”
What does 4 dots on wrist tattoo mean? ›A common tattoo in American prisons for Hispanic inmates, is four dots or three dots. The dots represent that you have earned your keep in your gang. The three dots would represent the 13 of the southern gangs and the same for the northern gangs with four dots :: for 14.
What is a good tattoo for a cancer? ›A lion tattoo is the perfect tattoo for the loyal Cancer. No animal represents loyalty more than the noble lion, and this lion also incorporates the Cancer Zodiac color of blue in the eyes, making this a great Cancer Zodiac tattoo idea.
What are the side effects of breast tattoos? ›
- Skin infection. Bacteria on the skin can enter at the site of the tattoo and cause cellulitis, or skin infection.
- Allergic reaction from the dye. ...
- Granuloma or keloid formation. ...
- Bloodborne pathogens.
According to several recent studies, the recommendation is to wait until scars have completely healed and chemotherapy/radiation treatments are complete. This can take months or may even take a year or longer.
Does insurance cover mastectomy tattoos? ›The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) is a federal law that requires group health plans to provide coverage for reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy, including nipple reconstruction and tattooing.
Are you completely flat after a mastectomy? ›When you choose to leave one or both sides of the chest flat after mastectomy — rather than have breast reconstruction surgery with tissue flaps or implants — it is known as going flat. People who go flat either live flat all the time or choose to use external breast forms however often they wish.
What tattoo covers mastectomy scars? ›A mastectomy tattoo is an artistic tattoo that is drawn on top of the breast area to cover mastectomy scars. Often, women who got implants but did not get nipple reconstruction choose to get mastectomy tattoos.
Who is the breast cancer survivor fashion designer? ›Betsey has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs since the 1960's. She is also a breast cancer survivor. Betsey recently shared her breast cancer story on Real Pink.
Is areola tattooing permanent? ›7 How Long Will the Areola Pigmentation Last? Generally, all tattoos will fade to some degree and may need touch ups. We use cosmetic pigment colors and over time some fading may occur, at which time you may opt to have your colors refreshed.
How much is a breast tattoo? ›A chest tattoo can cost from $500 to $2,000, depending on whether it's a medium-sized tattoo covering part of the chest or a design that spans the entire chest.
What is areola tattooing for? ›An areola tattoo is a cosmetic procedure that is done on the area of the breast or chest where the areola is found. The idea of areola ink is that it alters the appearance of the nipple in some way, be it adding one or changing the shape.