Whitstable mum pays tribute to medical tattooists after breast cancer
Julia Mercer says medical tattooing helped giver her confidence after a mastectomy.
A mother from Whitstable says medical tattooing made her "feel normal again", after having a mastectomy due to breast cancer.
Julia Mercer, 67, said: “I felt embarrassed of my body after my diagnosis but the tattoo made me feel normal again.
“I had a scar as well and the team tattooed that to look like normal skin.
“It was such a wonderful experience and the team were marvellous; I never felt embarrassed.
“Breasts and hair are so important to a woman’s identity, and I was lucky that I was able to use a cold cap during my chemotherapy treatment so I didn’t lose my hair.
“After the reconstruction I could hide the fact I’d had breast cancer but as soon as I looked in the mirror it was obvious. Now you can’t tell at all and I feel so much more confident.”
The mum of two worked as a bra fit expert and technical manager for Marks and Spencer, travelling around the world to train colleagues in fitting:
"I used to be in charge of bras at Marks and Spencer for fit and technical aspects.
"And so I had a real liking to making sure we look after women who have gone through breast cancer.
"But I didn't actually think I would be going through it myself.
"But you know, why not? It's so common."
She was diagnosed with breast cancer after experiencing pain when lying on one side.
Importance of testing
Speaking about her diagnosis journey, Julia said:
"I had no lump or anything, so I really didn’t think it would be cancer, but my GP referred me on the urgent pathway and they found a long lump in my breast.
"There's no breast cancer at all in my family. So I was the first one to actually come out with it. But it was just laying on one side was quite tender.
"I was going to the doctor for something completely different. And I just happened to mention it. And I was so glad I did. Because you just don't realise, do you?"
She urged others to also get tested if they experienced something similar: "I would say definitely go to your checkups because your checkups pick up everything.
"Five years ago, I had my breast cancer and I've just literally gone through lung cancer as well.
"That was just a pure accident going along for a scan and they picked it up and they dealt with it so quickly.
"And so they managed to get the whole cancer away without any treatment, which I'm over the moon over."
Julia needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as the mastectomy for her breast cancer, so it took almost three years before she was ready for the reconstruction.
During the surgery, a section was taken from her hip to form a nipple, but it was skin-coloured.
Medical Tattooing
East Kent Hospitals Charity provided almost £2,000 to fund the two-day specialist training course in nipple areola micro pigmentation.
Feedback from other patients has revealed it is a valued final step in their recovery, and allows them to feel like their old selves, before their diagnoses.
Talking to Greatest Hits Kent, Julia said:
"Not everybody does the tattooing.
"So although I was in charge of bras, I didn't see many tattoos when I was seeing women for fitting their bras. I wasn't aware of it at all.
"It was something that was offered as a choice. And I don't know whether I would have done it if I hadn't been helped along the journey.
"I've got two boys and one of them has tattoos, one doesn't.
"And I said, oh, they've offered me a tattoo. And he said, 'oh, that's amazing, Mum. You'll be in my club.'
"Of course, it is just the nipple. But Rachel and her team were absolutely amazing.
"It made me feel so much more relaxed. It just finishes that journey off for you."
It takes several treatments to restore a natural-looking nipple, which is colour-matched by the expert clinicians to a woman’s original breast.