It may not be radiation, but I still want a tattoo.

April 25, 2007 9:07 AM

Would it be stupid to get a tattoo a week before I start chemo?

Four weeks after surgery, I'm finally feeling "normal". I planned on getting a tattoo before I detected my breast cancer and decided to put it off so that it wouldn't interfere with any of my tests. (I know new tattoos and MRIs don't work well together.)

Now that I'm feeling good, I thought I'd get the stupid little tattoo I've been talking about for years done. (Small scrabble tile for K to match my other one.) Of course since I'm recovering so well, they pushed up the date for chemotherapy, which will be a week from today.

I've poked around a bit and I know getting a tattoo during chemo isn't a good idea, but what about before? Will it not heal properly or could I get some weird nasty infection and die? Or should I just go for it?

posted by kendrak to health (13 comments total)

Perhaps you should ask your doctor first?
posted by fallenposters at 9:11 AM on April 25, 2007

Will it not heal properly or could I get some weird nasty infection and die? Or should I just go for it?

Yes, yes, and absolutely no. This is quite simply a disastrous idea. For what it's worth, IAAD who frequently takes care of people that develop bad infections and septic shock as a complication of chemotherapy.
posted by drpynchon at 9:12 AM on April 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

I was gonna say "Fuck Yes, You Badd Ass" but, um, looks like no.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:17 AM on April 25, 2007 [3 favorites]

Seconding drpynchon; in addition to the problems he described I have seen hepatitis from tattoos. Although it is uncommon, it could be disastrous while you are getting chemo. Save your tattoo as a reward for x months in remission or something similar. And good luck to you.
posted by TedW at 9:21 AM on April 25, 2007

In just a week your immune system will be seriously compromised, and any tiny little thing could blossom into a raging infection. I'd say wait until chemo is well over.
posted by mathowie at 9:28 AM on April 25, 2007

Nthing NO. The whole point of chemo is to kill cells ... your cells, which have gotten out of control in the form of cancer. As a nasty side effect, chemo kills any fast-replicating cells of yours. Such as your white blood cells, which you use to fight infection. Should you get a tattoo right around the time your personal army of white blood cells has been decimated? No, you should not.
posted by selfmedicating at 10:40 AM on April 25, 2007

Absolutely not, and even if you don't believe us, ask your oncologist, who I'm 100% sure will tell you the same thing.
posted by myeviltwin at 10:59 AM on April 25, 2007

I see you marked Dr. P's answer as best, so it looks like you won't be going under the needle - good for you. But you can express your badass self with a homemade temporary tattoo using this paper you can run thru a printer.
posted by selfmedicating at 11:28 AM on April 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

thanks for the stern "no"s. i'll wait till after this whole ugly affair is behind me. the temporary tattoo paper looks neat. i think i'll make fake eyebrows with that.
posted by kendrak at 11:45 AM on April 25, 2007

My mom underwent chemo last year, also for breast cancer. She had to be very, very careful not to cut or otherwise injure herself during the treatment since her immune system was so compromised that the chances for infection were very high. Your body will have a new degree of delicacy that you'll want to respect. Plus if you have radiation, you'll probably get some tattoos for that.

Here's hoping your treatment is successful!
posted by hollisimo at 12:50 PM on April 25, 2007

Just posting to say congrats on the successful surgery, and best wishes on this part! Kick ass!
posted by loiseau at 3:51 PM on April 25, 2007

Kendrak, you're an inspiration! I suggest you keep your new tatt as a reward for when you're in remission. Good luck...I'm seconding AmbrosiaVoyeur's assessment: you're a badd ass!
posted by Lucie at 7:37 PM on April 25, 2007

We pretty much all agree that we want you to get one but NOT RIGHT NOW. I want to second the "Fuck yes, you bad ass" for AFTER the chemo.

Good luck and best wishes to you.
posted by sneakin at 4:12 AM on April 26, 2007