HAMPSTEAD, N.C. — Women with breast cancer can now feel more whole with the help of one determined North Carolina business owner.

The cost of care for cancer treatment drives many people into debt. A 2020 study by the American Association for Cancer Research found 47% of women with breast cancer experienced money issues due to care. This is not surprising, as the association also found the average cost of care in 2020 to be between $20,000 and $100,000.

Jenean LaCorte has seen the fight with cancer first hand. She began her fight at 13 months old. LaCorte’s grandmother also had cancer, breast cancer, in the early 80s.

“I’ve never known life without cancer,” LaCorte said.

More recently, LaCorte’s brother-in-law’s sister had faced breast cancer, and she opted for a double mastectomy. This procedure removes all the breast tissue, including the nipples.

Her sister-in-law decided to get tattooed after healing from the surgery. 

After seeing the long process her sister-in-law went through, having to travel several states away, seeing how many tattoos can turn out poorly and not look realistic, LaCorte wanted to offer something better.

“Breasts are so intrinsically a part of who women are, and their identity is that anything subpar is just not acceptable,” LaCorte said.

LaCorte says she wants to help every person who has gone through breast cancer to feel whole again.

With the cost of care, not everyone can afford to get these tattoos, and that is why LaCorte set up the Healing Ink Fund. It's a private fund where donors can help those who cannot afford a restorative tattoo get one.

“Any woman, any time, tells me she just can’t afford it. I find a way to have that covered for her because no woman should have to do without,” LaCorte said. 

After having the background of over 20 years of being a professional artist, LaCorte went all in, logging 100 training hours in seven days to become a certified medical tattoo artist.

LaCorte said she knew from her very first time tattooing that she was exactly where she was meant to be.

LaCorte has helped many people over the years, including Jacqueline Johnston, who was diagnosed with breast cancer while caring for her elderly father.

“And two weeks later, I got the call about, you know, I needed a biopsy,” Johnston said. 

After Johnston saw her 3D nipple tattoo for the first time, it left her speechless and in tears.

“No matter what was going on with me, I could come in here and feel amazing because of what I knew I was doing for someone else,” LaCorte said.

These restorative tattoos are not only for breast cancer patients. LaCorte does restorative tattoos for all types of scarring, including self-harm.

To learn more about the services LaCorte offers, check out her website.

If you would like to donate to the Healing Ink Fund, you can contact LaCorte directly.