When Allyson Lynch was diagnosed with breast cancer at 26 years old, she had to undergo 16 rounds of chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy, only to undergo breast reconstruction surgery two years ago.
Instead of opting for fake nipples, however, Lynch went the artistic route.
Instead of fake nipples, she decided to get "permanent lingerie."
"I had tattoos before cancer was even a thought in my mind. I had always loved the beauty behind tattoos," she revealed to the Daily Mail. "So, when I knew I was having a mastectomy I didn't really see the point of getting fake nipples that serve no purpose."
Her tattoo artist helped her bring her vision to life.
John Pohl of Bonedaddys Tattoo tattooed the beautiful floral design. Getting tattooed wasn't just an aesthetic thing — it helped Lynch take ownership of her body.
"'One thing positive I was able to make happen for myself after completing chemotherapy was getting tattooed," she said. "I took back and reclaimed what cancer had taken from me."
The survivor appeared in Oprah Magazine and will be featured in Inked.
Lynch hopes her story will be seen by young women just starting their journey.
"When diagnosed, I constantly looked for somebody that I could relate to, somebody that reminded me of myself that wasn't the normal middle-aged woman you typically associate with breast cancer. I wanted to see someone young, edgy, and relatable," she said.
"When I find messages in my inbox from young women just starting out in their journey, it breaks my heart but I am happy if I can make some sort of difference — it makes it feel as if the whole situation was worth something."
Lynch hopes to remind everyone that cancer doesn't have to take away what makes you "sexy."
"I've been able to use my modeling to show people that cancer doesn't stop you from being a woman," she said. "It doesn't make you un-sexy, we are women and we are powerful."
Well said, girl.
