Cancer Survivor Offers Free Tattoos to Breast Cancer Patients

Stace Donaldson knows exactly what it feels like to look in the mirror after a mastectomy and struggle to recognize yourself. Now she's helping other women turn their scars into something beautiful.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, Stace faced treatments alone during COVID-19 restrictions before undergoing a mastectomy in 2022. She began tattooing her own arm using the "stick and poke" method, drawing her cancer journey one mark at a time.

When she bought a tattoo machine, friends started asking for their own ink. Before long, she had launched Pins & Needles, a full tattoo business in New Zealand.

But between paying clients, Stace does something special. She offers free tattoos to breast cancer survivors through her "Tats for Tits" program, covering mastectomy scars with artwork that makes women smile again.

"You certainly don't feel pretty after a mastectomy," Stace says. "This gives people their confidence back and makes them feel pretty."

Cindy McIntyre discovered a golf ball sized lump in her breast at just 34 years old. A mammogram revealed 14 more lumps, and within a week, cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and armpit.

After six rounds of chemotherapy and a mastectomy, Cindy's remaining breast left her physically unbalanced. Two years later, she had that one removed too.

The biggest challenge wasn't the surgeries. It was looking at herself afterward.

Getting a tattoo across her mastectomy scars offered Cindy something breast reconstruction couldn't: beauty without more months of painful recovery. Her chest now displays artwork she's proud to show off, and her smile says everything words can't.

Sunny's Take

Stace believes her cancer happened for a reason, and watching her transform other women's pain into art makes that reason clear. "Cancer gave me balls," she says with characteristic honesty.

Her program welcomes all breast cancer survivors, including women with the BRCA gene who choose preventive mastectomies. She also donates voucher packages to local fundraisers, spreading the healing further.

"We need to go back to 'it takes a village,'" Stace explains. "A lot of people feel quite isolated, so the more people we can get together and make sure they're supported, the better."

One woman's journey through darkness is now lighting the way for countless others to feel beautiful again.