Breast Cancer Fundraiser Offers Ribbon Tattoos

These tattooed symbols of new life are poised near pink ribbons that hold special meaning for mother and daughter. Patty Krauss is a two-time breast cancer survivor, who lost her own mother to the disease. Their breast cancer tattoos were done to remember Katrina's grandmother, and celebrate Patty's survival. Breast cancer survivors and co-survivors may get inked for many reasons: to commemorate a loved one, raise breast cancer awareness, help with fundraising, or as a daily reminder of their struggle. Stacey Coffing and her husband Cary are about to get their first tattoos. Stacey is a one-year breast cancer survivor and mother of two school-age boys. When asked how they decided to dive into some pink ink, Stacey said, "To keep us grounded and to remind us of our daily gifts in life and to never take anything for granted. It will also remind us of our journey that we have gone through together and individually." Her son Caleb, age 12, feels that his parents' tattoos are a great way to forever support his Mom. Jonathon, age 8, says that even though it is going to hurt getting the tattoo, it will not compare to the pain that his Mom went through when she was newly diagnosed. Envisioning her impending ink session, Stacey said, "I am getting a pink ribbon tat with my date of diagnosis on it." Breast cancer treatment may bring on tattoos for medical reasons: radiation tattoos are used to help target ionizing energy to kill cancer cells, while reconstructed nipples may be tattooed to tint them with color. But some skin art is done for purely decorative purposes. Geralyn Lucas writes in her book "Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy" about choosing to skip nipple reconstruction, and have a heart tattooed on her nipple area, as a mark of survival. Lucas was 27 at her diagnosis and didn't match the stereotype of a gnarly biker chick with skull tattoos and helmet hair. Her breast cancer tattoo was a mark of survival and defiance of breast cancer - defining herself as she wished to be, not as others