A father-of-three who underwent breast tissue removal due to cancer says he now feels “complete” again after receiving a realistic “3D” nipple tattoo.
Dave Talbot, 67, from Bristol, was declared cancer-free in 2017, but he felt like something was missing after his mastectomy.
That changed when he discovered medical tattoos and booked a session with award-winning tattoo artist Lucy Thompson, known for her post-cancer nipple designs.
“It was something I was concerned about – it’s just nice having matching nipples again after all these years,” said Dave.
Dave first noticed a lump on his chest while showering in 2015. Having lost both his mother and brother to cancer, he knew he had to get it checked. His GP initially dismissed the possibility of breast cancer, as it affects around 400 men annually in the UK, but still referred him for testing.
The results revealed that Dave had an aggressive form of cancer.
“Your first thought is, ‘How long have I got?’ because, for many, cancer is a death sentence,” Dave recalled. “Then frustration and anger were my other reactions.”
Fortunately, Dave’s cancer was caught early. He underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and eventually a mastectomy.
When Dave was told he would have a mastectomy, he was immediately concerned about losing his nipple.
“At the time, the idea of getting a nipple tattoo was almost unheard of, even for women, so I didn’t give it much thought,” he said.
However, when he later learned about nipple tattoos, Dave decided to book an appointment with Ms. Thompson, who has completed over 1,000 similar tattoos. She even founded the Nipple Innovation Project, a charity that supports men and women in similar situations.
Now, Dave is determined to raise awareness of male breast cancer and hopes to encourage other men to seek paramedical tattoos without feeling “embarrassed.”
“Men tend to be stoic, but if something changes in your body and doesn’t improve within a couple of weeks, get it checked,” he advised. “I feel complete now, and my body looks the way it used to.”
Ms. Thompson explained that these tattoos can help cancer survivors “reclaim their bodies.”
“At the end of the day, it’s a natural body part that we shouldn’t feel ashamed to talk about,” she said. “Being able to witness the transformation before my eyes is truly special.”
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