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

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

kendrak — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:07:17 -0800

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?

By: fallenposters

fallenposters — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:11:11 -0800

Perhaps you should ask your doctor first?

By: drpynchon

drpynchon — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:12:56 -0800

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.

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:17:16 -0800

I was gonna say "Fuck Yes, You Badd Ass" but, um, looks like no.

By: TedW

TedW — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:21:44 -0800

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.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:28:17 -0800

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.

By: selfmedicating

selfmedicating — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:40:10 -0800

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.

By: myeviltwin

myeviltwin — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:59:20 -0800

Absolutely not, and even if you don't believe us, ask your oncologist, who I'm 100% sure will tell you the same thing.

By: selfmedicating

selfmedicating — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:28:29 -0800

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.

By: kendrak

kendrak — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:45:39 -0800

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.

By: hollisimo

hollisimo — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:50:45 -0800

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!

By: loiseau

loiseau — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:51:37 -0800

Just posting to say congrats on the successful surgery, and best wishes on this part! Kick ass!

By: Lucie

Lucie — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:37:57 -0800

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!

By: sneakin

sneakin — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:12:27 -0800

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.