Our Mission
Pink Ink provides Australian male and female breast cancer survivors benevolent relief, support and assistance through medical, cosmetic or artistic tattooing.
These simple, but costly, tattoos can ease the suffering and distress caused by the residual scarring, body disfigurement, loss of nipple/areola, permanent eyebrow loss, or other, that has resulted from mastectomy, breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Pink Ink offers funding for these tattoos as it is an important part of a full physical, mental and emotional recovery from the breast cancer journey.
The breast cancer journey is different for everyone. The one thing they all have in common - is that it is traumatic.
Once treatment is over there is little post-treatment care for survivors left with the pain and scars from the battle they have endured. Many are left with severe physical trauma including scarring, no nipples, damaged eyebrow hair follicles, damaged skin and more. For these survivors, their mental trauma continues every time they look at their own reflection.
Such disfigurement can cause Body Dysmorphia (or Body Dysmorphic Disorder - BDD), which is a mental disorder characterized by the obsessive idea that a body part or their appearance is severely flawed. When the flaw is actual, its importance becomes severely exaggerated. Thoughts about it are pervasive and intrusive and may occupy the mind of the sufferer for many hours every day, causing severe distress and impairing otherwise normal activities.
Body Dysmorphia effects relationships, can end marriages, can lead to severe/chronic depression, and has been known to have led to suicide.
SURVIVOR TRAUMA IS NOT JUST PHYSICAL
WHO WE ARE - THE BACK STORY
The breast cancer journey is different for everyone.
The one thing we all have in common - is that it is traumatic. I know this – because I went through Breast Cancer in 2020 during the COVID pandemic.
Once treatment is over - there is little post-treatment care for survivors left with the pain and scars from the battle they have endured.
Even though I suffer now with chronic pain, lymphedema, a pitted armpit, radiation burns, cording in my tendons, nerve damage and numbness throughout my entire right-hand side; as well as minimal eyelashes, less hair and patchy eyebrows - I consider myself "a lucky one".
The results for me are near perfection - when compared to others who are left basically mutilated - with severe scarring, no nipples, damaged eyebrow hair follicles, damaged skin and more. I can look at myself in the mirror - but for these survivors - their trauma continues every time they look at their own reflection. In fact - the commonly used term by these survivors, about their reflection, is that they "look like a monster".
Such disfigurement can cause Body Dysmorphia which can cause severe distress and impair otherwise normal activities. Body dysmorphia affects relationships, can end marriages, can lead to severe/chronic depression, and has been known to have led to suicide.
I was inspired by a friend who lost her nipples through a double mastectomy. This impacted her life, and when she became a single mother, she saved and saved her money to get the tattoos done. She had to delay the procedure a few times because of financial circumstances, but when she finally got it done - the CHANGE in her was profound. Huge! She is a different and better person for it. The confidence in her exudes. She is now dating and enjoying life - not hiding herself away from the pleasure of being a beautiful desirable woman.
I didn't want money to be the obstacle for survivors being able to get these tattoos which can change their lives. It is an important part of a full physical and emotional recovery from breast cancer journey.
And so, this is how Pink Ink began.
June Belkovskis
WHO WE ARE - THE BOARD
The Pink Ink Australia Board consists of eight women, who have a long history of philanthropy and work within in the local community.
Two have been through Breast Cancer. All have been touched by Breast Cancer.
Our Board is responsible for Pink Ink Australia’s overall performance and compliance, providing strategic direction, effective governance and leadership.
Our Constitution establishes a governance structure for Pink Ink Australia in which the management and control of the business and affairs of our organisation is vested in our Board .
