Incredibly Inspiring Breast Cancer Tattoos
“I’m here.”
For the past 40 years, October has been a month dedicated to breast cancer awareness. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly one in eight American women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. And contrary to popular belief, 85% of people who are diagnosed do not have a family history of breast cancer.
A study published earlier this year revealed that Black women are 42% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Early detection and advances in medicine are key to improving survival rates.
As of 2020, there are over 3.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States. Many people have transformed their challenging experiences into beautiful body art. Its a permanent way to pay tribute to your fight or that of someone else. So, we rounded up a few breast cancer tattoos to get you inspired. Whether your breast cancer awareness involves getting tested, donating to survivor funds, or receiving treatment, we must never lose hope for a cure.
Breast Cancer Memorial Tattoos
Breast cancer tattoos are seen on both men and women. The pink looped ribbon logo serves as a reminder for breast exam checkups.
As for breast cancer memorial tattoo ideas, the pink ribbon can have angel wings added, or even a butterfly will add a lovely accent. For many asking for these memorial tattoos, they have already lost a loved one to breast cancer. Because of its hereditary nature, the despair and continuing fight do not stop after the loss. It continues down through the family. Many families continue to support breast cancer research for themselves and in memory of those who have died. It is a perfect tattoo for these families.
Add the name of people who have passed in your family to the tattoo design. It doesnt even have to be a family member. You may have a friend or coworker who fought the fight and lost. Include names, dates, unique items you shared, but always show the pink ribbon with the loop. It has almost become an international sign. Promote it if you can.
What Kind Of Tattoo Do You Want
If you know the purpose of your tattoo and perhaps have a rough design , its time to think about what style of tattoo you want.
When it comes to post-breast cancer tattoos, there are three main types:
Lingerie or Bra Tattoo
These pretty, feminine tattoos mimic an intricate bra and cover both breasts. From a distance it would probably look like youre wearing a pretty swimsuit top. See one of our favorite lingerie tattoos here.
Single breast tat
If you are interested in something smaller, or are looking up to cover a scar from a lumpectomy or bilateral mastectomy, a smaller, more understated tattoo may be right. Some tattoos gently cup the breast or run under it. Certain designs, like flowers or birds, can nicely complement the shape of a breast. Check out the tattoos that Kim and Christine got to help get their confidence back.
Flat Chest Tattoo
Lets not forget all the ladies that said ta-ta to their breasts for good! A woman who chooses not to go for reconstruction after a double or bilateral mastectomy has a good flat surface for creating an amazing chest-plate tattoo. Your chest is an excellent canvas for big, bold art, so get creative! Check out this Wonder Woman tattoo for inspiration!
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Tattoo Ideas: Breast Cancer Pink Awareness Ribbons
I have 13 tattoos as well as several piercings, and I think they’re all pretty cool.
Pink ribbon tattoos symbolize breast cancer awareness.
When I was in elementary school in the early 1990s, I remember seeing neighbors tie yellow ribbons around the trees in their front yard. My grandparents told me it was in support of our troops, who were overseas fighting in Operation Desert Storm. In high school, I started noticing red ribbons pinned to the shirts of classmates and learned that they were a symbol of AIDS awareness, dyed red because that’s the color of passion. The ribbon has been a symbol of awareness ever since.
In 1991, the Susan G. Komen Foundation handed out pink ribbons to participants at NYC’s race for breast cancer survivors. Later, ribbons were distributed in various New York City department stores. According to Wikipedia, “Charlotte Hayley, who battled breast cancer, produced peach color ribbons. She sold them with a card saying, “The National Cancer Institute annual budget is 1.8 billion US Dollars, and only 5 percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon.” It was eventually decided that the permanent color of the ribbon would be pink. It quickly became an international symbol of breast cancer awareness.
Simple Cancer Ribbon Tattoos
Perhaps the most popular type of cancer tattoo, a simple ribbon says all that needs to be said. These tattoos can be tiny and hidden excellent for avoiding painful questions or big and vivid. Simple tattoos like these can be customized extensively. Adding a particular pattern, symbol or a bit of background all contribute to depth and meaning. The simplest tattoos are the most reliant on crisp line work and color usage, so be sure to choose a tattoo artist highly skilled in both aspects.
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Delicate Breast Cancer Ribbon Tattoo Designs With Butterfly Motif
A lot of women love to get butterfly tattoos with their dainty wings. It can be monochromatic or have colourful ink and they normally mean a lot for the wearer apart from looking exceptionally cute and pretty. Butterflies are associated with femininity, grace and endurance. They also symbolize hope for change and moving forward in life because of their unique life cycle.
Therefore, many women attach the pink ribbon tattoo along with a beautiful butterfly who is spreading its wings. For survivors, the butterfly also signifies freedom from a deadly illness and independence from a life in the hospital. This means that they could also spread their wings and shape the course of their life the way they want to by putting their painful past behind them.
If you are looking for some amazing more amazing butterfly tattoo designs, then check out these wonderful 3D butterfly tattoos.
Live Cancer Ribbon Tattoo
Same as with hope, the pink ribbon can be used as a letter in another word, and that is live. The ability to survive cancer and continue with their life is something that many cancer patients would love to do. The hardest part, for some, is the point after surviving cancer. How to continue living?
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Are You Concerned About Side Effects
The tattoo process is relatively safe, but it can cause pain depending on where you get your tattoo. If you get reconstructed tissue tattooed, you may get away with very little pain, but ensure you are fully healed before beginning the tattoo process. Because there is a risk of infection after getting a tattoo, you should not consider one while undergoing radiation or chemotherapy.
Metallic tattoo inks may cause problems with future MRIs. Talk to your tattoo artist about this and consider getting a tattoo that does not require metallic inks.
Memorial Tattoos For Mom
Memorial tattoos for mom are sad but will make you smile for years to come. Its as if she is with you and looking after you even after she is no longer with you. A hummingbird in flight caught in a freeze-frame with head and the bill pointing down with two yellow flowers to the side of it, and the word mom on the opposite side running top to bottom is a great idea. You can also incorporate any personal items into the tattoo design. The vertical use of lettering and the font you choose will modernize your mothers memorial tattoos.
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Designing A Memorial Tattoo
If you need help designing your memorial tattoo, the best thing I could tell you in this department is to talk to your tattooer. Maybe your first inclination would be to get a Cross or the name with dates. Thats cool but kind of basic. Maybe go a different direction because youll remember those dates forever.
I had a customer who had a niece that died. I told him, rather than just putting a bunch of numbers and dates on you, what is something about your niece that reminds you of her?
He said that they were hiking one time, and she put a forget-me-not flower on her sweater, and for some reason, he remembers her by that.
I was like, well, lets do a forget-me-not.
End of the day, its a lot cooler looking tattoo than a bunch of dates and text on your arm.
Get something thats going to remind you of that person. There are probably hundred different ways to do a memorial tattoo, and they are all good. I would suggest you sit down with your tattooer and talk and see if they can come up with some ideas. Because maybe they think of a bunch of stuff you had never thought of and turn your idea into a more fantastic design.
End of the day, get something cool thats going to put a smile on your face and remind you of that loved one who passed away.
What Is A Breast Cancer Tattoo
You might want a breast cancer survivor tattoo, or a tattoo to show support for a loved one with breast cancer. Whatever the case, breast cancer tattoos often incorporate the pink ribbon. They often also incorporate meaningful symbols. Some of the common symbols used in breast cancer tattoos are:
- Butterflies: Symbolize hope, as well our souls and rebirth.
- Birds: Different birds represent different things, but birds in general represent freedom, life, and peace.
- Flowers and Plants: Once again, different types of flowers can symbolize a wide range of meanings, but all flowers and plants can be used to represent growth and creation.
- Dragonflies: Symbolize transformation and light.
- Boxing Gloves: Represent the fight that those affected by cancer have faced.
- Crosses and Religious Symbols: Represent faith in God.
Symbols and imagery that have a more personal meaning are also very common in breast cancer tattoos.
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Why Do You Want A Tattoo
What are your goals and hopes for your tattoo? Once you really know what is driving your decision, youll be better able to make the many other decisions involved in getting inked. Do you want to remember something? Inspire yourself? Are you wanting your tattoo to cover a scar? Write down what you want your tattoo to mean, and let that purpose statement guide you through the entire process.
The most important thing is to give yourself time to think about what you want and why you want it. Dont allow yourself to be pressured into anything before youre ready. Your tattoo will be with you for a long time, and it has to be something that will stay meaningful to you as the years go by. A tattoo should never feel rushed.
What Are The Signs Of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer can have several symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.
Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it’s always best to have them checked by a doctor.
You should also see a GP if you notice any of these symptoms:
- a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood
- a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
- dimpling on the skin of your breasts
- a rash on or around your nipple
- a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
- visible veins on the breast. This may signal a blockage in a blood vessel triggered by a lump or increased blood supply to the breast due to a growing tumour
Breast pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.
The financial ombudsman started running in 2015 and has raised around £4,000 for Cancer Research UK through participating in running events.
She was training for another when she noticed her bumpy vein.
Ms Greene said: ‘I was really getting into my training when I realised that my bra was rubbing my chest.
‘It was a sports bra I had worn on many occasions and had always been comfortable, but, suddenly, it just felt wrong.
‘It wasn’t a round lump. It felt more like a bumpy vein, so I wasn’t too concerned, but given my family history I decided to book an appointment with my GP.’
Ms Greene was also placed on a seven-year course of hormone therapy.
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Lovely Ideas Of Remembering Someone Through Breast Cancer Ribbon Tattoo
Any cancer tattoo is always deeply personal and meaningful. They represent courage, hope and strength through art. It is also used to pay tribute to someone who is a survivor in the fight with cancer or has lost their life because of it.
If you want your tattoo to be meaningful and to represent that personal fight, then you can also add the name of the person or your relation with them. This is also a wonderful way to pay tribute to them and represent the excessive strength and courage they have shown every step of the journey.
This tattoo will also be a wonderful way of raising awareness about the illness and showing your support and solidarity towards its patients.
These Breast Cancer Tattoos Honor The Heroes Who Fought Battles Against Their Own Bodies
By Paige Turner
Getting inked with a breast cancer-themed tattoo is a poignant and beautiful way to show your unending support for the fight. Whether its you whos battled breast cancer or a good friend or family member, adding a tattoo in honor of the battle nobody asks to fight is a wonderful choice.
This beautiful compilation of tattoos is so inspiring! And theyre all so very different!
Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo for yourself or someone else who is going through or has gone through breast cancer? Its a personal choice to be sure, but its a lovely thing to do. If you need ideas for your next tattoo, this is a great place to start.
Even if tattoos are not your style or if youre not able to get one for whatever reason, you can still ooh and ah over the tattoos in this compilation. You dont have to have a tattoo to be able to appreciate them! This compilation is full of meaning and beauty that marks the triumphs and losses of so many people whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.
Check out the video below to see a wide variety of different breast cancer tattoo ideas. Many of these could be modified to fit other health issues with different colored awareness ribbons!
Which tattoo was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Provide Mammograms
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Inspirational Breast Cancer Tattoos
Pink ribbons and bows you see them almost everywhere and its no surprise. This symbol has become an international sign to represent ones moral support for women with breast cancer. The awareness has become a major topic in the last several years and when it comes to tattoos, theres no exception. Whether the tattoo represents ones personal battle with breast cancer or a memento to a loved one who lost the battle, the people who wear these tattoos have an inspiring story to go along with their pink ribbon that theyve chose to adorn their bodies with. The tattoos range from a simple pink ribbon or bow to elaborate and intricate designs that represent the person individually. Some are paired with words of inspiration while others have a symbol to represent the struggle. Below are a few of the many designs that have been used to support breast cancer awareness.
Pink Ribbon with a Heart
A simple yet beautiful personalized pink ribbon and heart placed on an ankle in honor of the wearers mom.
Colors Sizing And Placement
Colors for Memorial tattoos can be done in single dark ink with a lot of shading to add depth and look great. For some people, the color will bring energy to their memorial tattoo designs. Military memorial tattoo designs may have camouflage colors, reds, black, yellow, and white. Firefighters commemorative tattoo colors may be black, red, and white. Tattoos for mom, dad, and pets will range in true-to-life colors. The breast cancer tattoos have bright pink looped ribbon.
Sizing and placement for these tattoos are usually in small to medium size. Military, firefighter, pet, mom, and dad tattoo designs are normally mid-sized, look great on the shoulder, chest, arm, and lower leg. Any of these tattoos look great in a large size on the back.
Breast cancer tattoos are usually in a small design in a visible place like the neck, forearm, back of the hand, upper chest, or lower leg.
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Ideas For Breast Cancer Ribbon Tattoos With Dates
Since cancer is an arduous and strenuous battle, many people like to remember the day they beat it and celebrate it every year. For them, it is a milestone of a remarkable achievement. It also reminds them that they went through a gruelling time but have come out of it stronger. It serves as an inspiration.
On the other hand, for many people, some dates can be full of sadness as well. The mortality rate of breast cancer is quite high and many people lose their loved ones-mothers, sisters, aunts or best friends-to the illness over the years. Subsequently, if you want to remember the day you or someone close to you beat breast cancer, you can get a pink ribbon tattoo with the amazing date etched on to the ribbon.
You can also add the sad day that your loved one departed on to the ribbon to forever keep them in your heart.