Scroll down to see their breast cancer tattoos, and read the powerful stories behind them.
Ive been living withmetastatic breast cancerfor three and a half years.
In that time Ive gotten five tattoos.
Courtesy of Abigail Johnston. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.
Most are over divots or scarring from surgeries.
Each one redeems or explains a part of my story.
First I got a frayed ribbon that looks like theMetuplogo over the divot in my left breast.
Courtesy of Abigail Johnston. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.
Its all black, so its stark and stands out against my skin.
To me, dragons symbolize spring, generosity, independence, free-mindedness, and creativity.
Im also right-handed, so having the dragon on my dominant side is also significant.A.J.
Courtesy of Abigail Johnston. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.
This tattoo represents how Ive burst out of my shell.
Wearing art on my body allows me to redefine the scars and effects of MBC treatment.A.J.
My tattoos are part of who I am as a woman, kind of like my scars have become.
Courtesy of Beth Fairchild
They do, however, all speak to me.
Im living with metastatic breast cancer after being diagnosed at age 39.
I had no family history and no previous cancer diagnosis.
Courtesy of Michelle Schwerdtfeger
My cancer had already spread from my breast to my lymph nodes and into my spine and sternum.
I got this tattoo because I finished 12 rounds of chemotherapy and I wanted to celebrate.
My sisters also have versions of the same tattoo, which my 18-year-old daughter designed.
Courtesy of Michelle Schwerdtfeger
Theyre different, but the same.
Ive been living with metastatic breast cancer for four years.
My brother-in-law is a tattoo artist and he did this tattoo for me.
Courtesy of Michelle Schwerdtfeger
It serves as a reminder to live every day to the fullest even though I have this terminal disease.
Every day I persist.Corky Corley
Not long after my 40th birthday, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
After a lumpectomy, eight weeks of radiation, and five years of medication I was declared cancer-free.
Courtesy of Corky Corley
My cancer-free status didnt last nearly long enough though.
I now had stage IV (or metastatic) breast cancer.
Its been a very difficult physical and emotional journey, but its taught me unimaginable strength and gratitude.
Courtesy of Beth Lockwood
The colors are green, teal, and pink.
When diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at 42, I didnt think I would live to see 45.
Themetastatic breast cancer awareness ribbonis the base of the tattoo.
Courtesy of Beth Lockwood
My mother and I got our matching tattoos together.
It was a wonderful experience to go through with a wonderful woman.
Nicole Iuliucci
For more information on metastatic breast cancer, visit Susan G. Komen.
Courtesy Nicole Iuliucci
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