Tattoos can be a way to express yourself, show off your creativity, cover up something on your body you don’t like, and even signify your love for someone or something.
But did you know that this permanent body artwork could also give your doctor a reason to falsely believe you have cancer?
In 2015, a 32-year-old woman battling cervical cancer took a PET scan and the ink from her tattoos that cover her legs and thighs caused the test to suggest that the cancer had spread, reports Daily Mail.
According to her doctor, California surgeon Ramez Eskander, M.D, “The ink lit up the patient’s lymph nodes, a typical sign that cancer is present. It wasn’t until we were in the operating room that doctors realized that it was tattoo ink that caused the spots to appear, not cancer cells.”
You are probably now looking at your tattoos, if you have any wondering, how does that even happen?
Well, Dr. Eskander explains that, “When you get a tattoo, some of that ink will be absorbed in the cells in the lymphatic system and migrate to levels of lymph nodes. When there is a PET scan that shows a bright lymph node, if a patient has significant tattoos or body art, then you have to be cognizant that these might be false positives.”
Does this mean you shouldn’t get tattoos? I wouldn’t go as far as to say steer clear of them, but just like with anything else it’s a “good to know”.
If you have a significant amount of body art, it is important to remind your doctor of this and be prepared to undergo several tests if cancer is a concern.
For more skin and beauty info, visit KissTheChaos.com and follow me on Instagram: @Ooolala_laa
By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
