This Morning viewers have praised a ‘brave’ woman as she had a nipple tattoo live on TV after undergoing a mastectomy.
Nicola appeared on the ITV daytime show hosted by Cat Deeley, 48, and Ben Shephard, 50, on Tuesday and shared her experience with breast cancer.
She recalled how she noticed her ‘nipple sinking’ after getting the all clear from a mammogram and ultrasound and was diagnosed with the condition.
‘I had the mastectomy in 2023 with instant reconstruction. Unfortunately it was in all six lymph nodes so I had to have chemotherapy. I had 15 rounds of radiotherapy,’ she explained.
On This Morning, Nicola was able to have a nipple tattoo by tattooist Emily Ponte to recreate the area she had lost in surgery.
Nicola shared how it was ‘something that I wanted done, but you have to go on a waiting list. Since it’s cosmetic it’s not a priority’.
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Nicola appeared on the ITV daytime show hosted by Cat Deeley, 48, and Ben Shephard, 50, on Tuesday and shared her experience with breast cancer
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She recalled how she noticed her ‘nipple sinking’ after getting the all clear from a mammogram and ultrasound and was diagnosed with the condition
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On This Morning, Nicola was able to have a nipple tattoo by tattooist Emily Ponte to recreate the area she had lost in surgery
Stressing the importance of remaining positive, she added: ‘Before my diagnosis I was out there enjoying life, living it to the full, having fun.
‘I’ve not really changeg, I still go out and party and enjoy life.’
‘We use highlights and shading to create depth, Nicola has had a single mastectomy so we want to match up colours and positioning,’ Emily explained of the inking process.
‘We went through the consultation for measurements.’
The tattooist said she felt ‘honoured’ to be part of Nicola’s ’emotional journey’ and proceeded to begin tattooing the patient’s breast live on air.
Meanwhile This Morning’s Dr Zoe chimed in: ‘Whether you’re male, female, any gender, you need to be checking yourself. Roughly once a month, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself.’
Many viewers took to social media to share their support for Nicola, with one praising her as ‘brave’.
They wrote on X: ‘Bless the brave lady having her nipple tattooed live on TV to raise awareness around breast cancer!’
Another penned: ‘Very brave. Breast cancer can happen to anyone remember but what amazing confidence-restoring work these people do with the reconstructed breasts, nipple tattoo.’
Someone else commented: ‘poor woman has been through alot my heart goes out to her as cancer is a horrible disease and can happen to anyone.’
While a fourth said: ‘What a brave lady.’
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Many viewers took to social media to share their support for Nicola, with one praising her as ‘brave’
Later on in the show, Nicola revealed how her tattoo looked and was very pleased with the results, commenting how it was ‘looking human again’.
She teared up as she said: ‘I cant thank her enough what shes done, it’s actually been a pleasure. I didn’t feel anything when she was doing it.’
Just last month, Vanessa Feltz underwent a mammogram live on the ITV show.
The 63 year old had the procedure performed to show viewers that it was nothing to worry about and tackle stigma as part of NHS’ first ever breast screening campaign.
Mammograms detect changes in your breasts as a mammographer takes X-ray pictures of your chest.
Vanessa spoke to two women who have previously had one and that went on to save their lives as they were later diagnosed with breast cancer.
The journalist then went on to have one herself.
Vanessa spoke to viewers watching at home as she had it done, reassuring them as the nurse went about the check.
While getting it done, Vanessa said: ‘How does it feel?
‘It feels slightly squashed. But it certainly isn’t hurting at all.
‘I wouldn’t even call it discomfort. I certainly wouldn’t call it pain.
‘I’d say a little bit stretched, but as you can see I’m perfectly happy talking to you fine.
‘Certainly not in any kind of even remote discomfort, really. I’m fine.’
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Later on in the show, Nicola revealed how her tattoo looked and was very pleased with the results, commenting how it was ‘looking human again’
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She teared up as she said: ‘I cant thank her enough what shes done, it’s actually been a pleasure. I didn’t feel anything when she was doing it.’
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Vanessa Feltz praised for undergoing live mammogram on This Morning – and insists ‘I’m not brave or heroic, I’m ordinary’
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The 63 year old had the procedure performed to show viewers that it was nothing to worry about and tackle stigma
The mammographer then took a picture of her breast.
Vanessa said: ‘She’s going to turn on the X-Ray. Now, that means she has to leave the room. It’s a little bit like having a dental X-Ray, I suppose.
‘So, that’s the X-Ray of the breast taking place.’
Speaking about the procedure, Vanessa said to viewers: ‘If you were scared to come because you thought it would hurt, [there is] absolutely nothing to fear whatsoever.’
She added: ‘Anyone at all who was thinking, ‘Oh, I’ve got my invitation, I’m scared to come’.
‘Please don’t be scared…
‘Nothing at all to worry about. I’m here to say, please go ahead, because this could just save your life.’
Back in the studio Ben and Cat praised the journalist for having it done on air.