Reclaim Your Curves

  • Home
    • Our Work >
      • Reclaim & Recover
      • Breast Reconstruction Awareness Events
      • RYC Peer Support Lunches
      • Order - Postcards
      • Order - Patient Toolkit
    • Admin >
      • Health Industry Contact Form
      • Volunteer Registration Form
      • Suggest a service
      • Volunteer Crew page
  • Breast reconstruction
  • NEWS
  • Connect
  • Additional resources
  • Home
    • Our Work >
      • Reclaim & Recover
      • Breast Reconstruction Awareness Events
      • RYC Peer Support Lunches
      • Order - Postcards
      • Order - Patient Toolkit
    • Admin >
      • Health Industry Contact Form
      • Volunteer Registration Form
      • Suggest a service
      • Volunteer Crew page
  • Breast reconstruction
  • NEWS
  • Connect
  • Additional resources

News and Information Archive

Famed artist to ink breast cancer survivors in Aussie first

8/8/2014

1 Comment

 
The nipple may be the last place you’d think of getting a tattoo but for a group of Australian women, it may just change their lives.

Sydney mum Sam Taylor is organising a mass nipple-tattooing session with a world-renowned artist for women who have had breast cancer.

Many of us know someone affected by the disease, but what you may not realise is that nipples are usually removed during mastectomies and are not necessarily part of a breast reconstruction.

“A little of the breast cancer can be present in part of the nipple and for most of us, that’s not a risk we’re prepared to take,” explains Ms Taylor, a breast cancer survivor.
Surgeons can “reconstruct” nipples, but Ms Taylor says the method leaves them erect all the time and many women opt not to do it.

“The last thing I want to have is another procedure to have these nipples that are always going to be erect,” says Ms Taylor, who has already endured three operations in the quest to remove her cancer.

Enter Vinnie Myers, a tattoo artist who has become famous for his work on breast cancer patients. The trouble is, he’s based in Baltimore, United States.

“You can have it done (in Australia) but not to the same standard,” Ms Taylor says. “His technique is incredible.”

So she was delighted when she approached him about coming to Australia for group tattooing sessions – and he agreed. Through Breast Cancer Network Australia, Ms Taylor  has already rounded up a list of more than 45 women for two planned sessions in Sydney and Melbourne in August or September.

“It looks like it’s going to happen and that’s incredible,” she says. And the best part? “None of us are going to feel it, because we have no feeling there.”



It’s been a long health “detour” for Ms Taylor, mum to 15-year-old son Josh and seven-year-old daughter, Jade (pictured above).

She was diagnosed in May last year with the aggressive triple negative breast cancer. After undergoing chemotherapy for six months, she had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy to remove her uterus, ovaries and tubes. She then had a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction in a 10.5-hour surgery.

“It’s scary, but it’s scary not to do it,” she says. “Without the hysterectomy, there was an 87 per cent chance it was going to come back in the next five years. They would have monitored me really heavily, but who wants to take that chance? I thought, ‘if this is what’s going to stop it coming back, then bring it on’.”

Ms Taylor says she tested positive for the breast cancer gene, so having the double mastectomy was an easy decision. She is now clear of the cancer, but the final step in her healing process is to give her breasts a realistic areola and nipple. “If this happens, it is going to be awesome,” she says.

She is still taking names for the group nipple-tattooing sessions and is co-ordinating dates with Mr Myers. To be included on the list, email samtay696@gmail.com

Visit site
1 Comment
Dianne McDonald link
2/10/2015 05:38:36 pm

Hello out there. I have been trying to make contact for over a year now about Vinnie and when next he will be in Australia. I informed the network that I wanted to be on the first 20 list. I then informed that I would not be available on his Australia visit, but to put my name in for the next available. I have not received any mail, response or confirmation. Can you perhaps clear this matter up for me. Greatly appreciate. cheers Di

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    August 2019
    July 2019
    July 2018
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013


    RSS Feed

Quick links 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Volunteer with us

You have experience and wisdom to share.

Contact us to volunteer your talent:
Support others online or face to face
Offer your technical expertise
Provide admin support
Help with fundraising
Share your story
Picture
Contact Us

This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a physician or to create a standard of care for health care providers. Please check with a physician if you have any questions, need a diagnosis and/or for treatments as well as information regarding your specific condition.

Reclaim Your Curves 2015 - 2018