Chosen Scars: Breast Cancer and Mastectomy Tattooing as Digital Feminist Body Politics

Unveiling beauty: Insight into being tattooed postmastectomy

“…Despite adverse outcomes, the research reviewed above suggests more women are undergoing mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis in some Canadian provinces and while immediate breast reconstruction rates are increasing, they remain low. Alternative body projects such as tattooing, have been taken up by some women without breast(s) as a practice of self‐care and can be considered part of an expanded “tattoo renaissance.” 16 Although the prevalence of mastectomy tattoos is not known, we can look to the efforts made through the not‐for‐profit organization personal ink (P.ink) to learn that hundreds of women across Canada and the United States have been recipients of free chest tattoos since 2013, as part of P.ink Day campaign. This campaign towards tattooing, replacing breast(s) with a form of artistry is fueled by P.ink's mission, “to empowering women to reclaim their bodies after mastectomies.” 17…”