Local tattoo artist gives hope to women fighting breast cancer

SPOKANE, Wash. — As we close out October, we turn our attention to those who fight, survive, and have died from breast cancer.

Breast cancer is not just about individual health. It’s about community action and, for everyone impacted, it’s life changing.

When a woman is first told that she has breast cancer, she is instantly overwhelmed with fear, devastation, shock and anxiety.

“The ‘why me’ stops, you realize you’re not alone in this,” said Melissa Peterson who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Looking back, Peterson said the hardest part was living life outside of the diagnosis.

“I couldn’t put on my own shoes, I couldn’t wash my own hair, I couldn’t cook my own meal, I couldn’t vacuum my own house. So, someone was having to do everything for me,” she said.

But one man helped make her journey a little more manageable.

Caleb Frey is a tattoo artist with 30 years of experience. Frey closes his shop every Monday to work at Plastic Surgery Northwest.

“I do reconstructive tattoos. I tattoo the areolas on women who have had mastectomies,” said Frey.

Frey said it’s a privilege to help women who are struggling with self-esteem.

“It creates that level of completeness. So, when they walk past the mirror and glance in the mirror, they are no longer reminded of what they went through,” Frey said.

At PSN, Frey is part of an experienced team that allows women to have reconstructive breast surgery.

Surgeon Chris Pannucci believes the entire team at PSN has played an important role in making Melissa and others feel whole again.

“It is uniquely gratifying to be an engaged member of the community and to have the opportunity to meet with people in some of their most challenging moments and, quite frankly, offering that measure of hope,” said Pannucci.

Dr. Emily Williams, Co-Owner of PSN, says that since Frey came on board, Frey has been able to stand-out from other practices.

“Oh, my gosh…Caleb is integral to our success,” said Dr. Williams. “Having him support us has been an absolute gamechanger for our patients.”

Frey says he cannot even count how many tattoos he’s performed over the last three years but, PSN estimates at least 500 women have received this life changing procedure.

The reality is for Peterson and many other survivors the battle is not over.

There is fear that cancer can follow you for the rest of your life.

“You can be in remission, and you can be cancer free, they say, but cancer follows you,” said Peterson.

“You have to be followed the rest of your life by an oncology team, and it always lays in the back of your head, you know? Is there something else wrong? Has it gone somewhere else? Is this symptom I’m having something new? Is it another bout of cancer?”

Peterson believes that if she had not gotten her mammogram early, she may not be here today.

And thanks to Frey and the team at PSN, Peterson is confidently looking to fulfil her life’s dreams.

By doing this work, Frey understands his purpose in life.

“For me, it’s a subconscious decision,” he said. “I don’t look at it as giving back or being rewarded by it. This just what you’re supposed to do. I think that’s the way life is. Just do it and not expect anything in return.”

If you or someone you know have not gotten your mammogram contact, call the Inland Imaging Scheduling line at 509-455-4455 or your local doctor.