Breast Cancer Survivor Transforms Scars Into Incredible Art

After a double mastectomy to save her life, breast cancer survivor Sue Cook knew she had to do something to feel like she’d gained some control back.

The life-saving surgery had left scars, both physical and mental on the chief examiner for the University of the Arts London’s Foundation in Art & Design course.

“People who know me really well know I’m a control freak,” Sue, 62, tells The Independent.

But the disease stripped that away. As her cancer was so aggressive, she could only choose between having a mastectomy or dying.

“During the treatment you have to do what everyone tells you to. You are told where you stand, sit, lie. It just goes on and on. Getting a tattoo was me making a decision to myself about my body. It felt empowering.”

“Before I had the mastectomies I was a D cup, and I was so poorly I lost two and a half stone. When you go from a size 16 to eight it takes a while to reassess your body.”

Reconstructive surgery that involved taking fat from her back was a “step too far”, she said.

After waiting for the all-important five-year remission milestone – she was told the odds of her living that long were low – Sue chose a chose a Mandala-style pattern for the tattoo.

The intricate monochrome pattern reminded her of delicate lingerie that makes her feel beautiful “even if it’s a hidden secret”.

“I thought ‘I can transform my scars into something beautiful to symbolise the next step in my life’.”

“I had already lived through a big enough battle, now was the time to acknowledge the fight.

“To me, it is a thing of beauty and every morning when I see it, it puts a smile on my face.”

Sue has had such a positive response to her story she’s now decided to host an auction to raise money for cancer research.

She asked friends, colleagues and students to donate artworks, expecting to receive around 20.

But Sue received so many offers that she has had to turn some down.

• October is Australia’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Australian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). Survival rates continue to improve in Australia with 89 out of every 100 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer now surviving five or more years beyond diagnosis. For more information click here.