Cancer Tattoos

[Allison DeSoto]

Hey guys!  I know a lot of survivors and/or family members get tattoos in commemoration of their experiences.  Some are simple and some very complex.  I personally love tattoos especially when there is a deep significance to them.  I haven’t gotten one yet but I plan on getting one very soon.  My first will be symbolic of my survivorship and it will have some symbolism for my mother incorporated into it because it was as much her experience as it was mine because she was there with me literally everyday of my experience.  I am very excited to get this and my mom is getting one as well, so I am also excited to be doing this together with her!  I want to know if any of you, your friends, or family members are planning on or have gotten a tattoo for your experiences with cancer.  If so where are they and what are they of?

[Lexi Chopp]

I've got one on my calf that says "SURVIVOR" in Japanese.  Some friends of mine who were also cancer survivors started the tradition many years ago, and when the time was right I took the plunge.  Some people don't understand why I would put it in another language.  Part of it was the tradition, but part of it involves curiosity.  I feel like if someone truly cares and is interested, they'll ask me what it means and I can share my story :)

[Kane Weinberg]

That's awesome that you and your mom are doing that together! I definitely am considering getting one in the future, but I don't know what it would be of yet.

[Jennifer Toth]

That's really cool that you and your mom are doing it together!  I'd love to see a picture when you have it done!

I've thought about the idea of getting a tattoo related to my fight with cancer or in honor of friends that have passed away, but I haven't been able to think of what kind of design I'd get. My parents aren't the biggest fans of tattoos and have correctly pointed out that it wouldn't be very professional to have a tattoo showing at work, so I'm not sure where I'd get it either. I'm definitely going to keep the idea in mind, though! 

[Natasha Bear]

Hey Allison! I was actually talking to my friend about this the other day.  I had osteosarcoma, and the surgery gave me a huge scar on my leg that looks like a shark-bite.  I'm one of those people who likes to make a joke out of it, and i usually tell people I was bit by a shark.  I was thinking of having shark bites tattooed on my leg, but there is really no meaning to it.  I would like to get a tattoo somewhere that would represent my experience but not look tacky, you know? I am hoping eventually I will come up with something.  I love your idea of incorporating your mother! so cool!