MONTEREY, Calif. — A paramedical tattoo artist in Monterey is helping breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomies regain their confidence and feel whole again.
Ashley Hernandez, owner of Monterey Med Ink, specializes in 3D areola tattoos, a service that provides survivors with a sense of normalcy after their surgeries. For Hernandez, the work is personal. “My own mother had breast cancer twice before she passed away last year in July,” she shared. “I’ve always been fond of tattoos, and after seeing what women endure during their treatments, I wanted to help.”
Hernandez collaborates with her clients to choose an ink color that matches their skin tone, as well as the size and placement of the tattoo. The 3D tattoos replicate the appearance of a natural areola, helping survivors feel more comfortable in their own bodies.
“Some patients get very emotional and may shed a tear or two, but they’re happy,” Hernandez said. “It’s often the last step in their healing process, a way for them to finally move forward and leave the trauma behind.”
One of Hernandez’s patients, Megan Reis-Orque, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 after performing a self-examination. “I found it myself, got it checked out, and it was positive,” she recalled. The tattooing process helped her feel whole again.
“Breast cancer took so much from me, but getting reconstruction and this tattoo made me feel empowered,” Reis-Orque said. “It reminded me that breast cancer wasn’t going to take everything away from me.”
Reis-Orque emphasizes the importance of self-examinations in catching cancer early. “Please do self-checks. Even if it’s just a small bump or something that doesn’t feel right, get it checked out. It can save your life,” she urged.
Through her paramedical tattoo work, Ashley Hernandez is giving breast cancer survivors like Megan the chance to reclaim their bodies and their sense of self.
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