'I received a Lily tattoo over mastectomy scar to take me back to the fact of the beauty of life': Breast cancer mum Kathleen may not let melanoma win

When Kathleen Ellwood looks within the mirror, she now not sees her mastectomy scars – she sees pleasing body paintings of her universal flower.

The brave mum of two become left with multiple scars from 4 operations – including having her breast removed – after twice being clinically determined with breast cancer .

Kathleen, 53, says she has not ever had any regrets about figuring out in opposition t reconstruction surgical procedure and in no way felt embarrassed about the scars left over from her existence-saving operations.

however now when she appears at her chest, she sees whatever thing pleasing, which to her symbolises life.

Kathleen, of Symington, South Lanarkshire , who bravely revealed her tattoo in the hope of inspiring others, pointed out: "My message to anybody who has been via breast cancer is that you should be proud of what you seem like – it's the new you.

model Kathleen bought a tattoo across her scar to deliver elegance again to her physique read more

"I never worried in regards to the scars on my physique and by no means as soon as regretted my choice now not to have reconstruction surgical procedure when I had my breast removed.

"but when I reached the five-yr anniversary of being cancer free after my 2d breast cancer prognosis,i needed to do some thing to mark how I think – that daily should be a party of lifestyles.

"So I picked an emblem of life – lilies, that are my primary flower – and now once I study the place my breast used to be, I'm reminded now not of operations however of the beauty of existence."

Kathleen turned into first clinically determined with breast melanoma in January 2005, three months after finding a lump inher breast.

Kathleen on her wedding day with husband Keith (graphic: Kathleen Ellwood)

the former nurse, who became forty on the time, referred to: "I believe as a result of I used to work for the NHS, i used to be somewhat breast aware so had always checked my breasts and that i found a small pea-sized lump in my appropriate breast.

"i was referred for a mammogram and different exams and become told the lump become nothing to fret about – that it changed into simply an enlarged lymph node.

"i used to be told I didn't need to have the lump removed but i used to be fairly insistent that i needed it to move.

"I had the operation to remove it on Hogmanay and, two weeks later, went lower back to the medical institution for what i used to be certain can be nothing greater than a wound determine. but instead I found I had breast cancer."

Kathleen turned into given the shock prognosis on the day of her husband Keith's 40th birthday. It changed into additionally just months after she had lost her brother in a road accident.

Kathleen along with her brother Peter (graphic: Kathleen Ellwood) read extra

She noted: "Peter turned into just 34 when he died. He had been a passenger in a motor vehicle that was concerned in a crash with a different motor vehicle early one morning when he was on his technique to work.

"We had been all devastated by using his loss of life and, once I discovered I had cancer, one among my first thoughts became being concerned about how i might tell my fogeys their daughter had breast cancer so soon after that they had simply misplaced their son.

"however they had been astounding – as became Keith, who on the time I had most effective been dating for nine months."

Kathleen had further surgery adopted via seven weeks of radiotherapy. She became also put on the drug tamoxifen for 5 years.

In August 2009, Kathleen married dad-of-two Keith, who had supported her throughout her disease and healing. After 5 years of being melanoma free, her pals threw her a celebration to celebrate. however, lower than a year later, she found yet another lump within the identical breast.

Kathleen referred to: "The lump was in exactly the same area as it had been first time. I hoped it might be scar tissue but I also form of knew it wasn't.

"i used to be informed I'd need a mastectomy. i was offered reconstruction however, after having had so many surgeries on the equal breast already, I didn't are looking to put my physique via any longer."

Kathleen says breaking the news to her teenage babies turned into the hardest a part of her analysis.

She observed: "I believe in some ways it turned into tougher to be clinically determined for a second time however i was additionally determined I wasn't going let it weigh down me.

"If cancer changed into the ultimate factor i believed of earlier than going to sleep and the primary issue i assumed of whenwaking up, then the melanoma had gained.

Kathleen has had to re-be trained what matches her body form study extra

"I decided as a substitute i would focal point on life. I underwent the mastectomy, i was put back on tamoxifen once more and i've simply obtained on with residing existence."

just three months after her mastectomy, Kathleen and Keith – who run their personal car cleansing franchise – went on break to Antigua, the place she felt confident sufficient to put on a swimsuit in public.

She talked about: "It's difficult at the start to adapt to your new physique shape however I've received a prosthesis, which my family name Joey since it lives in a pouch in my bra.

"You study what clothes shape fits you and learn to embody your new seem and even to be pleased with your scars.

"I consider more desirable about my physique picture than I even have in years and luxuriate in finding geared up clothes to spotlight my shape."

Kathleen is starring in the 2017 fashion exhibit (image: Victoria Stewart)

Later this yr, Kathleen hopes to encourage different girls clinically determined with breast melanoma when she seems as a model within the Breast melanoma Care Scotland trend show .

Breast melanoma Care is the most effective specialist UK-wide assist charity for individuals littered with breast cancer. She added: "If me appearing on the catwalk or showing how my physique looks after a mastectomy helps to encourage and provides confidence to other americans who have been via breast cancer, I'm happy to do it."

This year's models. again row l-r: Mollie Folkman, Karen Kenny, Claire Ward, Angela Owens, Gwen Quinteros, Sandra Macdonald, Elizabeth Mackay, Audrey Allan, Mairi McAra and Linda Johnston core row seated l-r: Ruth Cochrane, Lorraine Ross, Bernadette Healy, Susan Reaney, Claire-Ann McCallum, Annie McMahon, Adeline Cassidy entrance row seated l-r: Joyce Weir, Trish Logue, Kathleen Ellwood and Kirsteen Pearson (photo: Victoria Stewart) Be part of the Breast cancer Care Scotland vogue show

Tickets are on sale for the Breast melanoma Care Scotland vogue demonstrate at the Hilton resort in Glasgow on October 26.

The charity are celebrating 15 years of the reveal, which this year takes place all over Breast melanoma focus Month.

For tickets, e mail TheShowScotland@breastcancercare.org.uk or name 0345 077 1892.

Their someone Like Me service places individuals littered with breast melanoma in touch with someone who has had an identical adventure.

For more details, see www.breastcancercare.org.uk .

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