Did anyone get a tattoo post BC?

Letlet
Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Let me start by saying that where I was born and raised, tattoos were not really encouraged, in fact they are frowned upon. Basically "good" girls don't get tats. I lived by the "rules" up until my BC diagnosis. No cute butterfly on the ankle for me, no sun/stars above the butt and I was perfectly fine with that. I will be starting rads in April and I've known for years that they tattoo the areas where to radiate and one lady at church showed me her tats (not tatas) and they look like freckles and I would never even know they were tattoos.

Anyway I just read a post from another thread about a BC sister getting her first tattoo. It made me realize and it hit me really hard. My first tattoo is for my treatment of breast cancer. Not a fancy whim while I was 15, not because I was out drunk with friends or hubby, not to celebrate the birth of a child - anything. I know that it is tiny but don't you have to check off the box that says "tattoos" on forms for life?

I'm thinking now, screw breast cancer. Every poke of the needle in my port or my hand, every surgery, every horrible arm stretch, every shooting bone pain, every uncomfortable position from machines was not my choice, I had to do it to be alive. Even as I am sick of pain I want to get a tattoo before BC takes that first away from me too.

I was thinking of just tattooing "ALIVE TO LIVE" just below my wrist. I hope I don't chicken out. My mom who is 60 overheard me discussing nipple tattoing and she said "no, don't do that anymore". I pretended not to hear her.

Any ladies out there who had tats done after BC? 

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Comments

  • mamaof3bugs
    mamaof3bugs Member Posts: 198
    edited February 2011

    I had my tattoo done almost exactly one year after my initial diagnosis.  It was my way of taking back my body, I CHOSE to have it done.  It was empowering for me :D  I will post a picture of it as soon as I figure out how too LOL.  I say go for it, it's your body!!  Angi

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  • mamaof3bugs
    mamaof3bugs Member Posts: 198
    edited February 2011
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  • mamaof3bugs
    mamaof3bugs Member Posts: 198
    edited February 2011

    this is on the inside of my right wrist :D

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited February 2011

    Angi, that looks really cool! I want it on the inside of my wrist too so that I can see it always. Thanks for sharing.

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  • greytmom_17
    greytmom_17 Member Posts: 162
    edited February 2011

    I had 2 tattoos already but got another on my 1 year anniversary. I got boxing gloves with a pink ribbon.  Looks pretty cool!

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  • bluewillowskys
    bluewillowskys Member Posts: 365
    edited April 2011

    i got my tattoo one day after my diagnosis. I needed something that made it real to me and something to help me feel strong and positive. Its pink ribbon as the body of a purple butterfyl surrounded by Faith, Hope and COurage. When I finish my treatment I am adding SURVIVOR across the top:)

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  • klg49
    klg49 Member Posts: 21
    edited April 2011
    I plan on getting my angle wings on my back as soon as the chemo and rads are finished. My 3 girls already have had the pink ribbons done on the inside of their arms too. My angels have really had my back on this one. So my tribute to all of the strong women in my life who have gone before me and are still watching over me. Innocent
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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited April 2011

    I got a beautiful pink ribbon on the top of my foot last Saturday.

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  • Amyrich
    Amyrich Member Posts: 43
    edited April 2011

    I plan on getting a pink ribbon with angel wings on my shoulder. I was diagnosed April 4th, with no chemo/radiation. I am waiting til November so my daughter will turn 18 and we can get it together. I have several friends getting them in honor of me, which is so overwhelming. This will be the first one for me!

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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited April 2011

    Diane I love your plan.  It sounds beautiful!

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  • badboobee
    badboobee Member Posts: 54
    edited April 2011

    Ok, I was one of those reckless girls who got a tattoo on my left boob. I always hated it, it stretched after having kids, didn't look as cool as I thought it was going to be. Anyway, after my mast. I only had half of my tattoo left. I was vey amused to see it mentioned on the path report being described as, "what looks like a spider". When I had recon, tram flap, I begged the PS to remove the rest of it, and now there is only a tiny bit of it left. So, I am happy it is gone, not too happy with why it is gone. I would like to get one again but think better placement is important. My friend, and co-survivor had one done around her wrist that reads, "never alone". She had it done in white, and since she is also white it is noticeable up close, to herself mainly because that's how she wanted it.



    Greytmom, love the boxing gloves, can you post a picture?

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  • greytmom_17
    greytmom_17 Member Posts: 162
    edited May 2011

    Changed my avatar so you can see it.  I took a coy of the fight like a girl t shirt and my tattoo artist designed it for me.  I love it!

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  • identtwins
    identtwins Member Posts: 67
    edited May 2011

    I just had my eyeliner tattooed on.  It is my first tat.

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  • aspen
    aspen Member Posts: 102
    edited May 2011

    I am a 3 time survivor.  Got my first tat (a small rose) when I turned 45.  Got my second at 55.  It is a Scottish thistle (my heritage) with a pink ribbon instead of the normal tartan.   It is on my right shoulder blade.  Love it and am planning a third one.  My tat artist is working on a Magnolia with celtic knotwork and some barbed wire for the leaves and stems.  I'm a southern belle and going for the steel magnolia concept.  This will go around my ribs to my back.  I'm a "closet inker" and not too flashy with the tats. 

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  • suzanneinphoenix
    suzanneinphoenix Member Posts: 208
    edited May 2011

    Hi, aspen....love the tat in your picture......would love to see your Magnolia tat when finished!  I'm a Southern gal, too......even if I now live in the wild wild west...the Kentucky Derby is just not the same out here Wink 

    Suzanne

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  • aspen
    aspen Member Posts: 102
    edited May 2011

    Suzanne,

    I understand completely about the Derby not being the same.  I live in Lancaster County, PA.  Sometimes I feel like I live on a different planet.  I really don't get why people here think I talk funny !!!    When I get the Magnolia tat.,  I'll do my best to get a pic of it posted.    Try to stay cool, saw on TV where it supposed to be really hot out there.

      

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited May 2011

    Can you tattoo over a scar?   I want to get a small tat over my port scar.

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  • Sandeeonherown
    Sandeeonherown Member Posts: 1,946
    edited May 2011

    I have two small tattoos already...one at age 28 and one when I turned 30...on either ankle as i figured if I gained weight, not a lot of change there! Now, once I have had my mammogram and assured myself that at least for this year, the battle has been won, I plan on getting a pink ribbon too..originally was going to have it on the scar but if I won't let them take blood from my left arm or do a manicure in case I get lymphadema....I am no longer thinking about having a tat (done with needles!) on my left side...maybe the foot...need to include a red ribbon too since I also had a heart attack in March 3 months after I ended rads!...

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  • lmcd1021
    lmcd1021 Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2011

    Hi, interesting question! 

    My first tat was a running unicorn with a rainbow centered on my right breast.  I lost the bottom half when I had the mastectomy on that side 6 months ago.  The second one was an American flag on the left breast the week after 9/11.. the third one was a memory banner around my left ankle with a a leafy vine, black rose and skull that I got when my husband died. 

    My surgeon told me to wait for a year to make sure it is healed well before having the tattoo reworked to add flowers and a small stream in front of the unicorn that is now lying down.

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  • Sandeeonherown
    Sandeeonherown Member Posts: 1,946
    edited August 2011

    I want to commemorate it and do something each year as i count down the five....colour in a petal every year is what I am thinking..might ask my galpal to design it for me...but while I would like to have it on the left breast, I do not want to risk ymphodema and since we are not supposed to have needles drawing blood on those sides..maybe this is not a great idea either...thinking right side no...collar bone. thoughts?

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  • deep2deep
    deep2deep Member Posts: 20
    edited August 2011

    For anyone thinking about a tattoo - you might laugh at this as much as I did!

    http://xkcd.com/933/

    var fctb_tool=null; function FCTB_Init_2c964b14084557458b232cbeef988749(t) { fctb_tool=t; start(fctb_tool); } FCTB_Init_2c964b14084557458b232cbeef988749(document['FCTB_Init_9ce8ec1e108c10499db543675ed9bf47']); delete document['FCTB_Init_9ce8ec1e108c10499db543675ed9bf47'] var fctb_tool=null; function FCTB_Init_3bfdfa228fea504bb1a1035b7193367a(t) { fctb_tool=t; start(fctb_tool); } FCTB_Init_3bfdfa228fea504bb1a1035b7193367a(document['FCTB_Init_7f03abb2aaecac458203f4f808d32b60']); delete document['FCTB_Init_7f03abb2aaecac458203f4f808d32b60'] var fctb_tool=null; function FCTB_Init_819d146928976e44bfb3a290f5f2b301(t) { fctb_tool=t; start(fctb_tool); } FCTB_Init_819d146928976e44bfb3a290f5f2b301(document['FCTB_Init_abfe02567fa0164c91c5853d1a2a63c9']); delete document['FCTB_Init_abfe02567fa0164c91c5853d1a2a63c9'] var fctb_tool=null; function FCTB_Init_02d792a98fcf1a45b4c2ecb20b937a9e(t) { fctb_tool=t; start(fctb_tool); } FCTB_Init_02d792a98fcf1a45b4c2ecb20b937a9e(document['FCTB_Init_143206286da5aa4e9476ee2b7b564606']); delete document['FCTB_Init_143206286da5aa4e9476ee2b7b564606']
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  • sanbar8771
    sanbar8771 Member Posts: 281
    edited August 2011

    Heck yeah I got a tattoo. 4 inches on my side by my ribs. I got a decorative breast cancer pink ribbon with the word "Survivor" in latin written above.  Go for it!!

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  • Madismommy719
    Madismommy719 Member Posts: 781
    edited August 2011

    My husband and I are getting tattoos commemorating my making it through my journey.... He wants the pink cancer ribbon that looks like it's running with my name....I'm not sure what I want yet...probably a saying somewhere along the lines of making it over the mountain.... or emerging out of the darkness.... Something. I have time to decide....

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  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,577
    edited August 2011

    I've considered it, but if you had lymph dissection be sure to get it on the other arm, it can trigger lymphedema.  In fact I was talking to someone recently, she said the PT/Lymphedema specialist said not to get one in that whole area, back, front, shoulder, arm or hand of the the side of MX/lymph dissection.

    Post  a picture of it. 

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  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 2,101
    edited August 2011

    I got my first tattoo on my 40th birthday while in Vegas with the girls - almost 2 years out from my dx.  I had never really considered a tattoo before but when my friends suggested getting tattoo's of "Live", "Laugh", "Love" I immediately knew my tattoo would be LIVE...

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