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Share your views: Artistic tattooing of breast-cancer mastectomy scars
Hi everyone!
Following up on my previous post, I’d like to invite you to participate in a PhD research study being conducted by Tina-Maree Newlan of Charles Sturt University on artistic tattooing of breast-cancer mastectomy scars. The study aims to investigate the experiences of women who have had breast cancer mastectomy surgery and their experiences with making choices and decisions to decoratively tattoo mastectomy scars and what do those experiences mean for them.
This request has been reviewed and approved by BCNA, and the project has been approved by Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocol number H24311).
You are eligible to participate in this research study if you:
are a women aged 18 or over
have had an early breast cancer diagnosis, breast cancer mastectomy surgery and completed, or are in the process of completing, professional decorative artistic tattooing of mastectomy scarring
Would like to participate in an interview and are English speaking sufficient to participate in an interview
What does the study involve?
Eligible participants would take part in an initial 60-minute interview (via Zoom or face to face, depending on geographical location relative to the Gold Coast) and then a subsequent second 30-minute interview around two months later.
How do I take part?
If you are interested in participating in this study or have any questions, please contact the researcher, Tina-Maree Newlan at tnewlan@csu.edu.au
Comments
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I've seen some fantastic artistic tattooing (particularly for aesthetic flat double mastectomy.)
This one is famous, world wide - and beautiful.
Here is the story behind it:
https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2013/11/tattoos-after-mastectomy.html
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If anyone is are considering tattooing for decoration, please make sure you are fully informed on all view points and make a choice knowing your risks and then make your personal risk assessment , everyone has different levels of acceptable risk. Knowing the permanent effect not only the ink will have as it lodges in your lymphatic system forever , but also the inflamitory response to the extensive skin damage of many many needles punctures ,infection risk, lymphoedema risk (lymphodema can happen in any body part and causing damage to tissue;skin anywhere, floods the area with extra fluid full of infection fighting cells and protians to help it heal, and if you are aready at or near your fluid max capacity, then internal repair can overload your fluid system with too much and cause swelling, which may be temporary , or may be permanent depending on your bodys ability to cope) and many more risks. It is a big decison and not one to be made lightly nor without thorough councelling,assesment and planning. Be prepared mentally for the side effects and potential not good ones too.( Ink in nodes means sentinal node biopsy is not possible as they can not see the tracer ink as they all are already stained with the tattoo ink your body tries to process but it can not, so it lives in your lymph nodes forever..)
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I had a dragonfly tattooed over my mx site. I had no problems at all. I have pet scans and CT scans every three months without an issue. I am very pleased with it however it took me over a year to decide on the design. I would do it again on the other side if I ever need to have a mx there.1
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I consulted my surgeon before getting my tattoo. He told me if I decided to get one to have it when it was healed but whilst the area was still numb, so near the end of twelve months. I still have numb spots from the surgery six years on but one tatt is enough. I get heaps of compliments from nurses, doctors, radiologists, medical imaging, etc. Not a single one has said ANYTHING negative about it. Our emotional acceptance is very important to our cancer healing.1
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Hi @Kristen thank you for your informative response and apologies for the delay in getting back to you. Please see response from the researcher, Tina-Maree Newlan below:
"Hi Kristen. I’m the researcher conducting this research, and just want to assure you that we’re interested in talking to women with all kinds of stories – good, bad, and everything in between. I don’t know if you’ve had a mastectomy tattoo, but you’re more than welcome to participle if you have, and feel comfortable sharing your story with me. You can contact me on the email above if you want some more information; contacting me does not obligate you to participate at all.”2 -
Thanks Erana for the message from Tina,I will email her directly since she probably not see this.No I have not had any scar ,nipple or decorative tattoos. I am anti them for myself as a uniboober since i have lymphoedema and many sensetivities. But do support many others choices to do so and i do run a bc support group , so if that study is still recruiting that you mentioned Dec 2024 , i will look to see if i can find a way to share it easily to my Sutherland shire BC support group.If you have a recuitment poster please attach it.Scar re colourisation does seem to be a newer and less know service, 3d nip and aerola tattoos are becoming more common.I see you already published a paper Dec 2023 with a different ethics number.
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