8 Inspirational Stories from Breast Cancer Survivors and Their Families
Using body art to deal with breast cancer
Breast cancer treatments often have long lasting effects on patients in their bodies. In some cases, patients may have to undergo a mastectomy to get rid of the cancer. A mastectomy is a complete removal of the breast and surrounding tissue, including the nipple.
In most cases, women who undergo a mastectomy will seek out breast reconstruction surgery, which restores the look and feel of their old breast. One survivor, Kim Williams, went a different route. Kim had a double mastectomy and had to have both of her breasts removed. Instead of getting reconstruction surgery, Kim avoided it altogether and chose to keep her chest the way it was. She chose to commemorate her successful surgery and make the best of her situation by getting a beautiful tattoo covering her removed breasts. Kim's story shows how even the worst scars breast cancer leaves behind can be turned into something extraordinary. For more on her story and pictures of her tattoo, go here.
