A growing number of breast cancer survivors have turned to ink to help conceal scars received under the knife, which they use to strengthen and empower themselves, according to USA Today.
The growing trend has been noticed, even by health care professionals like radiation oncologist Anthony Dragun, who says that patients are getting inked on their arms, shoulders or scars.
"Think of it as a badge of honor, like people in the military after a tour of duty," said Dragun.
P.ink, an initiative that connects cancer survivors with tattoo artists, says that the move to tattoo is an additional option, besides just whether to get reconstructive surgery or not.
"Our goal is to connect breast cancer survivors with tattoo artists who can provide a form of healing that no one else can," P.ink says on its website.
Dana Donofree, breast cancer survivor and founder of AnaOno, a company that specializes in intimate apparel for women who've had breast cancer related surgery, said that she was looking for other women who had done mastectomy tattoos but wasn't finding them, according to The Courier-Journal.
"I don't think it's because women weren't doing them necessarily, but I think it's because we weren't talking about," said Donofree. "I want women to know they have a choice."
