A donation from Northumberland Freemasons is making a difference for women who have undergone breast cancer surgery. The £1,000 funding was given to the North East Nipple Project, an initiative run by Amanda Patterson and Megan Jones. The project offers free 3D areola tattooing to women who have had breast reconstruction following cancer treatment. This service helps restore confidence and supports emotional recovery.
Advanced areola tattooing has become an important part of breast reconstruction. While this treatment is available through the NHS, there are often long waiting lists and limited access, which prevents some women from receiving the care they need on time. Amanda Patterson, who operates her studio in Wallsend, explained that many women can’t afford private tattooing services. She and Megan Jones fundraise so they can provide these procedures free of charge to those most in need every month.
Both Amanda and Megan started focusing on areola tattooing during lockdown after learning about the difficulties women face in accessing such services. Megan Jones, who works from Strictly Beauty in Sherburn Hill, described the tattooing as “the gift of confidence,” helping survivors feel like themselves again after their breast cancer journey. The North East Nipple Project was recognized as a finalist for a community award, showing its impact in the region.
The Freemasons’ donation enabled Amanda and Megan to pay for advanced training. This new training teaches techniques to conceal scars and treat different skin types, making the tattooing more realistic and improving patient comfort. Survivors have shared that the warm, welcoming environment offered by Amanda and Megan is much better than traditional clinical settings. One survivor, Jackie Sexton from North Kenton, explained that the tattoos she received through the NHS faded quickly. After working with Amanda, she noticed a huge improvement and said the new tattoo gave her a “whole new lease of life.”
Norman West of Northumberland Freemasons commented that they felt it was important to support a project that helps women regain their self-esteem after such difficult experiences. Amanda and Megan’s work bridges medical and artistic expertise, offering women the best possible care. As the project is a non-profit but not a charity, donations like the Freemasons’ are vital to continue providing these services to breast cancer survivors.
