The most difficult and emotional part for breast cancer survivors is reclaiming one’s body. Many women are getting their bodies tattooed for fast emotional healing. People who don’t go for breast or nipple reconstruction, a tattoo can help to conceal the mastectomy scar which can help to uplift them emotionally. The following blog describes how tattoos can prove to be emotional healers for breast cancer survivors.
It is very ironical to look at one’s body after the mastectomy and the more difficult part is to accept it emotionally. It was so tragic for Miriam Valderrama a 40 year old female who lost her both breasts to breast cancer to see herself in the mirror with scars after mastectomy.
Heal The Pain Of Breast Cancer with Tattoo
She said “I didn't look at myself in the mirror and I didn't look at my scars," Finally Miriam who underwent eight weeks of surgery decided to get her chest tattooed which now makes her feel much better about her body.
As per the statistics of The World Health Organization 458,000 people die every year due to breast cancer. Another estimate by National Cancer Research Institute says that in Mexico breast cancer is found to cause death of 15 women in a day.
The agonizing part for breast cancer patients is not just long and painful treatment but the challenges involved in the process of recovery and reconstruction.
Dr Roel who is a plastic surgeon and performs post-mastectomy breast reconstructions says “ The "emotional burden" suffered by many survivors is exhausting”. He also added that breast reconstruction takes a lot of time sometimes from several months to a year and this frustrates most of the women. They get tired of seeing operating rooms repeatedly and that’s why they accept scarred body and being flat-chested.
If one gets their body tattooed it helps them forgive the painful memories of operation and the scarred body. Even the surgeon said the tattoo helped Miriam lift her self-esteem. She now has a butterfly in a cherry tree tattoo over her breast which makes her feel good about herself.
Myranda Trejo Elizalde, Miriam’s tattoo artist told EFE that women can find a beauty in their scars if they wish to and tattoos in one such powerful way of covering their scars and feeling good about their bodies even after getting their breasts removed. The plastic surgeon also said that tattoos cannot just add to the beauty with their artistic beauty but also can emulate the nipple and its areola which gets lost during mastectomies.
Moyeda along with his team is working with tattoo artist Israel Suárez to provide free of charge recreation of the nipple and areola for women who are breast cancer patients. They have treated around 50 patients in this year and there are many more in the waiting list.
The artist Suárez said his main aim is to find pigments which can help the tattoo to adapt with the tone of the patient's skin. He makes use of various effects using solid colors, contrasts and light effects for making the tattoo look more realistic.
Moyeda quoted "Whether they do it or not has no effect on their physical health," "but in terms of emotional health...the feeling of being whole once again is a goal that can be accomplished 100 percent."
Miriam said her tattoo helped her see the cancer as a "chance to grow," and that taught her to "fight" with the help of her family. She also noted the importance of raising awareness about breast cancer and its prevention, even for those with no direct background of the disease. "As women we run many risks, the thing is to deal with them in time," she said.
It is very ironical to look at one’s body after the mastectomy and the more difficult part is to accept it emotionally. It was so tragic for Miriam Valderrama a 40 year old female who lost her both breasts to breast cancer to see herself in the mirror with scars after mastectomy.
Heal The Pain Of Breast Cancer with Tattoo
She said “I didn't look at myself in the mirror and I didn't look at my scars," Finally Miriam who underwent eight weeks of surgery decided to get her chest tattooed which now makes her feel much better about her body.
As per the statistics of The World Health Organization 458,000 people die every year due to breast cancer. Another estimate by National Cancer Research Institute says that in Mexico breast cancer is found to cause death of 15 women in a day.
The agonizing part for breast cancer patients is not just long and painful treatment but the challenges involved in the process of recovery and reconstruction.
Dr Roel who is a plastic surgeon and performs post-mastectomy breast reconstructions says “ The "emotional burden" suffered by many survivors is exhausting”. He also added that breast reconstruction takes a lot of time sometimes from several months to a year and this frustrates most of the women. They get tired of seeing operating rooms repeatedly and that’s why they accept scarred body and being flat-chested.
If one gets their body tattooed it helps them forgive the painful memories of operation and the scarred body. Even the surgeon said the tattoo helped Miriam lift her self-esteem. She now has a butterfly in a cherry tree tattoo over her breast which makes her feel good about herself.
Myranda Trejo Elizalde, Miriam’s tattoo artist told EFE that women can find a beauty in their scars if they wish to and tattoos in one such powerful way of covering their scars and feeling good about their bodies even after getting their breasts removed. The plastic surgeon also said that tattoos cannot just add to the beauty with their artistic beauty but also can emulate the nipple and its areola which gets lost during mastectomies.
Moyeda along with his team is working with tattoo artist Israel Suárez to provide free of charge recreation of the nipple and areola for women who are breast cancer patients. They have treated around 50 patients in this year and there are many more in the waiting list.
The artist Suárez said his main aim is to find pigments which can help the tattoo to adapt with the tone of the patient's skin. He makes use of various effects using solid colors, contrasts and light effects for making the tattoo look more realistic.
Moyeda quoted "Whether they do it or not has no effect on their physical health," "but in terms of emotional health...the feeling of being whole once again is a goal that can be accomplished 100 percent."
Miriam said her tattoo helped her see the cancer as a "chance to grow," and that taught her to "fight" with the help of her family. She also noted the importance of raising awareness about breast cancer and its prevention, even for those with no direct background of the disease. "As women we run many risks, the thing is to deal with them in time," she said.