14 Powerful Tattoos Inspired By Cancer
A cancer diagnosis represents the start of a completely new chapter in your life — a chapter that will no doubt leave you feeling permanently changed. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you know it’s not really possible to “go back” to how life was before cancer came along. However, that kind of shift in your body and perspective is, for many tattoo enthusiasts, perfect inspiration for some new ink. After all, what better to honor the enduring legacy of your cancer fight than a permanent reminder of all you went through?
If you’re thinking about getting a tattoo in honor of your cancer experience, you might feel inspired by others who have designed similar tattoos. (P.S. — if you’re looking for post-mastectomy tattoos, there are some amazing designs out there, too!) We asked our Mighty cancer community to share their tattoo and the meaning behind it. Whether you’re a tattoo newbie or seeking to add to your ink, hopefully, your fellow warriors will inspire your creative juices.
Here’s what our community shared:
1. “I choose to get something small, just one word that I hold very close to my heart — ‘hope’ with a yellow ribbon in it. This is hope for a cure and hope for the future of pediatric cancer because I shouldn’t have had to fight for my life at age 7 and neither should any other kid.” — Ali W.
2. “I got this tattoo the day my oncologist officially told me I was in remission and cleared me to get tatted. It says ‘Veni Vidi Vici’ [I came, I saw, I conquered] with a teal cancer ribbon (I was diagnosed with stage 2c ovarian cancer in 2015). After an intensive surgery and over 30 rounds of chemo I felt like it was the perfect gift to myself!” — Christie A.
3. “Yup. I got this on my one-year cancerversary. F*CK OFF CANCER!” — Leslie U.
4. “This is my cherry blossom tattoo, I got it after I achieved my first remission from multiple myeloma. It reminds me that life is short but full of beauty, and to remember to appreciate each moment.” — Sharon D.
5. “This is my tattoo inspired by my son, Gavin’s, cancer journey. I got this tattoo on the one year anniversary of his original diagnosis with leukemia. It’s a leukemia ribbon made into a ‘G’ …he is my hero.” — Frankie D.
6. “It’s shorthand in my mom’s handwriting and it says ‘get busy living’ with the pink ribbon for my breast cancer survivorship.” — Shelley J.
7. “Breast cancer for me (13 years with mets) and I got the gold ribbon (childhood cancer) and the grey ribbon (brain cancer) to honor my amazing niece.” — Julie M.
8. “Two weeks after my husband of 14 years left I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer as a newly single mom. When I told him the news I realized how very alone I was in the battle. So I called my sister and dragged her to the tattoo shop and got this sweet thing on my wrist to remind me that even when I want to give up, I have to keep going.” — Amber G.
9. “For my now 5-year-old and 8-year-old. My 5-year-old was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at 4. Her belly got so big that she looked like a turtle on its back. It stuck. My mantra has been ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ So this Momma and her babies will pace ourselves as we fight and we will win.” — Amy V.
10. “To remind myself to just survive one day at a time.” — Katie B.
11. “It is not finished yet, the white would not take. It represents me, breast and white for lung for my father. We just lost him on April 14th.” — Kelly D.
12. “Blue representing hereditary angioedema and dysautonomia. Purple representing SMAS, fibromyalgia and thyroid cancer. Green representing gastroparesis. It’s for me to remember never giving up. I want to do more tattoos of this style.” — Fernanda M.
13. “This is a tattoo of a green ribbon (gastroparesis), white ribbon (invisible illness and lung cancer), and a blue ribbon (chronic illness). I have gastroparesis as well as a few other chronic/invisible illnesses. And my mom passed away from lung cancer. Underneath the ribbons, it says, ‘Courage, Hope, Strength.’ It is to remind me that I’m a fighter and I will not let my illnesses win. Also, my mom fought her battle with more courage and strength than I knew one person could have; no matter what she stayed positive and never gave up hope.” — Jennifer C.
14. “I got this when my husband was fighting stage 4 cancer! My RA ribbon linked with his lymphoma one.” — Chris M.
For more tattoo inspiration, check out these ideas:
Erin is the former senior editor and chronic illness editor of The Mighty. She joined The Mighty in 2015 and previously worked at Inside Weddings magazine, Mic, and The Huffington Post. She was also the features editor at The California Aggie, UC Davis' student newspaper. She is honored to be a part of the Mighty community!
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