Hello, my name is Samantha Innis, and my hope is to help those diagnosed with breast cancer and/or have the BRCA gene to regain their confidence by providing ultra-realistic areola tattooing following a mastectomy with reconstruction.

This is very personal to me as I myself was diagnosed with breast cancer (invasive cell ductal carcinoma) in January 2019 just after turning 44. I had three tumours in my left breast and one in my left lymph node. The tumours were oestrogen and progesterone positive, stage three, grade 3.

I had a mastectomy with lymph nodes removed and immediate reconstruction (DIEP) in February 2019. I started chemotherapy over 6 months, followed by 15 fractions of radiotherapy. After I had recovered from the active treatment I started chemical menopause monthly injections and Tamoxifen tablets to prevent recurrence of the breast cancer. My bone health was affected by the medicines I had taken, which meant I had to have bone strengthening infusions (zoledronic acid) over a 3 year period. I also developed lymphoedema in my right arm from my lymph nodes being removed and have to wear a support sleave. I will need to take medication for a further 5 years

Chemotherapy was especially hard both physically and mentally. My hair fell out and, I developed a painful neuropathy in my feet and could hardly walk.

I am lucky to have the support of my family and my amazing husband and children who were 13 and 7 when I was diagnosed. I was self-employed at the time of diagnosis, with no savings or critical illness cover, so my income went overnight to zero. Subsequently, it’s been extremely hard financially to catch up since that time and pursue my dream of helping others and giving back to the breast cancer community.

My friends and I have raised awareness with a couple of photoshoot campaigns for Breast Cancer Now charity and fundraised for our local breast screening centre. This is very important to me and dear to my heart.

I was lucky enough to have a areola tattoo, done for free by Vikki Clark on my mastectomy side two years after my surgery. It cannot be put into words how life changing this was for my body image and my sense of femininity after years of treatment and surgeries. It gave me something back that was lost amongst the cancer journey and I knew that this was what I wanted to give others.

I decided to create a GoFundMe page, as I am not in the position to fully fund my dream to learn and provide areola tattooing, MCA scar treatment and scar camouflage. The training with The Areola Training Academy (TATA), cost of equipment, and creation of a clinic space amounts to just over £8,000. I plan to offer a set amount of free treatments a month to people that have had BRCA or breast cancer surgery. If anyone is keen to have areola tattooing, I would like to offer a free treatment when their name surfaces on a waiting list, or they can see me sooner and for a charge.

I have the experience, sensitivity, and passion to help people affected by breast cancer and BRCA, but I need financial help, and that is why I am here on Go Fund Me. I assure you, every penny donated will be used to make a significant difference. Many thanks for reading my story.