Meet Survivor Dale Wingert!

Before we kick off our official P.ink Boulder 2015 events tomorrow, we want to make sure to introduce our followers to Dale Wingert - another brave survivor-warrior! Dale will be tattooed by the Boulder P.ink veteran, Melora Coyle of The Raw Canvas Tattoo Studio and Art Gallery in Grand Junction Colorado. Melora has lived in Colorado since she was 10, and grew up with artistic parents. She did glass etching for a living before starting her very exciting tattoo career which she states is the best job she's ever had and probably ever will.

Dale tells her story here:

Thinking about my story seems like yesterday and so long ago at the same time. I was 39 that year and living in Toledo, Ohio with 3 of my 4 children still at home. My oldest was living on his own by then. My only daughter, the youngest was 8 that year. 

In January 2006 a lump was discovered. I went to Dr. Rhee January 11th. She sent me that day for my first mammogram. They in turn sent me immediately for an ultrasound. I could see it. It was about the size of the oblong shaped space between your fingers when you hold your first finger on your thumb. 

I was referred to Dr. Leininger who did a needle biopsy that came back inconclusive. We waited 2 weeks and decided neither of us were comfortable with the inconclusive report. I underwent an excisional biopsy on March 1, 2006. Results came back positive, i had breast cancer. 

I met with 5 different doctors in the next few days, all specialist of different kinds. I listened, took notes and formed a "Team" of friends to help me. One of the doctors recommended I read "a woman's choice". It was an excellent book, especially when I didn't know anything about breast cancer. I learned the recurrence rates, what the scars can look like and generally everything while reading this book and doing research online.
Candy and Gloria helped me tremendously during the next year. Gloria would go to appointments and help me with all the difficult decisions. Candy made sure everything else was done while I couldn't. She made sure my meds were taken, children fed and homework done for my 3 and her own. I basically camped out at her house for 2-3 weeks at a time, only going home at night. 

My mastectomies were performed May 2nd. I had 6 surgeries all together in 9 months.
I've never regretted the decisions for the bilateral mastectomies and reconstruction. When the pathology came back from the mastectomies, a second cancer had formed in the 2 months between the excisional biopsy and the mastectomies. I would have blown up with cancer and wouldn't be here today.

Meet Survivor Pat Eells!

It's almost here! Time to meet survivor-warrior Pat Eells! Pat was a BFF to one of our survivors last year in Boulder, so is almost a P.ink veteran this year. Pat was originally paired with the amazing Shannon Purvis Barron, an original P.ink artist from Indigo Rose Studio in Columbia South Carolina, but due to the tragic flooding there, Shannon was sadly unable to make the trip this year. Another of our veteran Boulder artists, Melora Coyle, from The Raw Canvas in Grand Junction is stepping up, in true P.ink fashion, and making herself available on Friday, the day before the Boulder event, to give Pat her healing tattoo. Rising Tide Tattoo, our sponsor tattoo studio, is graciously accommodating this pair, as is our wonderful photographer, Heidi Wagner. This will allow Pat to participate in the rest of the event activities and not have to wait a year for her healing tattoo and P.ink Day experience. 

Pat's story follows:


Hi my name is Pat Eells i am 52 years young and am coming up on 3 years as a SURVIVOR. In 2012, I developed some discomfort between my breasts, and over the next few months noticed a change in size between the two sides as well. I had my annual mammogram and they performed an ultra sound on the left. Even with those symptoms, I was told "All is well - we'll see you next year." But I knew something was not right, and a year earlier I was told I was a candidate for an MRI mammogram and went through all the tests that determined that I was at a 30% higher risk for breast cancer. So I was pretty determined to have them do a MRI mammogram - and they agreed. Early November 2012 they said they found something and that is when my journey through the maze began. A week later I had the first of several biopsies; I get a call early one morning from my gynecologist who said, "Pat You have IDC breast cancer" What is IDC? Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. I was not shocked as I already suspected; "Ok what is next?" was all I asked. Other biopsies were performed and 3 more areas of non invasive cancer were identified. As most breast cancer survivors know things start moving really fast. Due to the numbers, the decision was made for me; a mastectomy. No decision to make - for me a double it was. Meeting doctors for the first time and having to make decisions as to are they the best one for me (hard). My biggest struggle was whether to reconstruct or not; thinking I was bein vain. Then my friend Tiffany (a ten year survivor) said the most wonderful thing to me "Who cares what others think, you do what is the best thing for you". Six weeks later surgery and expanders (boy do those hurt). Never really scared or any doubt that I would get through this. I am now coming up on 3 years, 3 plastic surgeons and a 7th surgery. I never did chemotherapy or radiation and for that I am truly thankful. This is not a group I ever wanted to be a part of. However, through this I have met many amazing people one being my BFF Karen Richards, who I had the complete honor of being with as her BFF last year when she received her healing tattoo. My support system has consisted of my friends (both Survivors and not), my Husband of 17 years and the best form of therapy has been my Motorcycle.


From day one I knew I would never do nipple reconstruction and at one point thought about a 3D nipple tattoo because as women we think we need to be made to look like what we did before (NOT). I have several other tattoos and love the beauty of them. Today I look in the mirror and I see lines where my Areolas used to be and to me this is my new norm and I am ok with this. I have decided to never get anything that represents what I lost. That was then this is now and I want to look in the mirror and see something other than a blank canvas I want to see a beautiful piece of artwork. Since I can only do one side on this amazing day I have chosen something organic floral/plant and will work with my amazing artist Shannon Barron from Indigo Rose Tattoo Studio on something unique and beautiful and look to work with her in a year to do something on the other side; maybe something to do with the sea and the fact that I am a Scuba Diver (Land and Sea)

Meet Survivor Melissa Leith!

We're so happy to introduce Melissa Leith to our followers! Melissa is one of 5 breast cancer survivors chosen to participate in P.ink Day 2015 in Boulder, Colorado. Melissa's artist is Darren Hall from Rising Tide Tattoo in Boulder. Darren's portfolio and bio can be found here. Darren has been tattooing in Boulder for over 18 years!  Here is Melissa's story:

Three years ago, on September 8, 2012 to be exact, I received those words that no one ever wishes to hear. After a week of doctor appointments, testing, a biopsy and multiple mammograms, my family and I decided to go camping to take a break for the weekend. It was a Saturday, and my doctor had called my cell phone multiple times. I thought that either meant she wanted to give me good news so I could enjoy the rest of my weekend, or that the news was so bad she didn't want me to wait. I avoided her calls all day. That night I slipped away from camp to call the doctor back. I had my daughter, then 11, with me. She had no idea that I had any of this going on, but the intuition of children astounds me. When the doctor uttered those words "It is cancer" I started to cry.  Once I hung up the phone my daughter asked "What's wrong mommy? What is it? Is it cancer?" All of this coming from a child that had no foundation to base her comment. 

We couldn't believe this news. I was 39, had always been in good health, and I worked out on a regular basis. How can someone that looks and feels so good have cancer?!?

I underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy in October, followed by 6 rounds of chemo the beginning of 2013 and 25 rounds of radiation. Altogether I have had a total of 5 surgeries. I worked full-time through it all, only taking off about a month for the mastectomy surgery. 

There is so much to navigate when you have a cancer diagnosis that you are never able to just acknowledge what is happening, or worse yet, what it could all mean. There are tons of choices to be made, doctors to locate, and soon everyone in your city will have seen you naked. LOL The process is reeling! Anyone that hasn't been through it can ever fathom the feeling of walking into an infusion room, loosing your hair in the shower, having to face your peers bald, or being sealed away in a room under a machine that you know puts out toxicity at levels that can kill a person. That is obvious when the radiology technician closes a door between you and them that is 2-feet wide, sealing you in isolation and talking to you through a microphone.

The end of treatment doesn't lessen the load of this diagnosis either. There are endless doctor appointments, the navigation of health and diet going forward, which includes what supplements one should take and what needs to be avoided. The information of do's and don'ts  coming at you everyday is overwhelming. 

I was very fortunate to have a strong support system of friends, my husband and two daughters. My best friend went as far as to shave her head the day I started loosing my hair, and also took me to all of my chemo appointments so I wouldn't be alone. My husband is, and always has been, my rock. I also found a strong group of fantastic women on Breastcancer.org, and we have bonded and formed relationships that no one on the outside will ever understand. These are my "Bella's" and will forever be a foundation in my life.

Cancer was a speed bump in my life. 

Meet Survivor Lisa Moore!

We're thrilled to introduce Lisa Moore to our followers! Lisa is one of 5 breast cancer survivors chosen to participate in P.ink Day 2015 in Boulder, Colorado. Lisa's artist is Phil Bartell - owner of Rising Tide Tattoo in Boulder. Phil ha been tattooing since 1996 and is one of the most sought after artists in town. Phil's portfolio and bio can be found here.

Here is Lisa's story:

I have always had lumpy breasts. Fibroid cysts is what they called them. I had a total of three removed, starting at age 16. Over the years I had a couple of them drained. They were never anything to worry about. When I was 51 I went in for a mammogram. I hadn't had one in a couple of years so it was time. A couple of weeks later they finally got a hold of me, they wanted to do an ultra sound and another mammogram. Two weeks after that they wanted to do a biopsy. At this point I was not worried, they had told me it could be scar tissue from the cysts I had had removed. Another two weeks went by now they wanted to do a Stereotactic breast biopsy. I was really very naïve at this point, having breast cancer was so far from my thought process.

Finally I had an appointment with my primary doctor to tell me what they had found. My only thought while I waited to be called in was 'If they made me pay $25 to tell me they found nothing I was going to be pissed'. Well I didn't have to be pissed, there was something there. As I sat there listening to my doctor tell me I had Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Stage 0, I thought 'I've got to remember this cause my Mom will ask me what the doctor said'.

My options were to do a lumpectomy and have radiation or a mastectomy and no radiation. This was a no brainer for me, they can have my breast I didn't need it for anything anymore. Luckily I am not a big chested woman. I also chose not to have reconstructive surgery. I have been cancer free for four years now and look forward to the day when I won't have to take tamoxifen anymore. I never had a desire to have a tattoo but when I saw what P.ink was doing I thought I would like to have my scar covered up. I sent in my application and waited. I am so excited for the opportunity and to have something meaningful on my chest instead of a scar. 

I thank God every day for blessing me with early detection and faith that has seen me thru the last four years.