TWN Broadcaster Kim MacDonald Shares Why She Shows the World Her Mastectomy Tattoo

Kim MacDonald, a broadcaster for The Weather Network and national spokesperson for Breast Cancer Canada, recently spoke at the 27th annual Luncheon of Hope fundraiser in Sudbury. She shared her personal journey with breast cancer and explained why she decided to reveal her sunflower tattoo over her double mastectomy scars to the public.

 

 

A Tattoo as a Symbol of Strength and Beauty

MacDonald’s tattoo, now a central image in a national advertising campaign, features sunflowers covering her mastectomy scars. This powerful image has appeared on buses across the country and even on a massive billboard at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto.

In her speech, MacDonald explained that she decided to get the tattoo in 2022, on the fifth anniversary of her surgery. “I wanted a tattoo of sunflowers, and so I got one. There’s a saying, ‘Be the sunflower, stand tall and follow the sun.’ That’s what I’ve been trying to do ever since my diagnosis,” she said. According to MacDonald, the tattoo helped her embrace her body and feel beautiful and strong.

Fighting Cancer and Choosing Not to Reconstruct

In 2017, after an aggressive diagnosis, doctors advised MacDonald to wait three years before considering reconstructive surgery. She ultimately chose to remain flat, a decision she believes was right for her.

During her speech, MacDonald noted that she struggled to find examples online of tattoos on mastectomy scars. This inspired her to participate in the advertising campaign to show other breast cancer patients what’s possible and to help normalize such body changes in society.

Diagnosis and Treatment

MacDonald was diagnosed with Stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma, HER2+, in 2016. Before undergoing her double mastectomy, she received chemotherapy to shrink her tumor, which was about the size of a baseball. Her treatment also included Herceptin injections, a crucial medication for HER2+ breast cancer patients. Without Herceptin, available in Canada only since 2000, MacDonald believes she wouldn’t be alive today.

MacDonald emphasizes the importance of early detection and highlights that mammograms have become more accessible for women in their 40s in Ontario. “Breast cancer can be curable if found early. The difference between Stage 0 and Stage 4 is timing. Stage 0 has a 99 percent survival rate, while Stage 4 is 31 percent, but that number is improving with ongoing research,” she stressed.

 

 

A Call for Courage and Support for Other Women

MacDonald also urged women to speak openly about their diagnoses and share their experiences to spread awareness about breast cancer. She recalled one of her darkest moments during chemotherapy, lying weak and sick on the bathroom floor but finding the strength to get up. “On your darkest days, be brave, find your voice, and speak up, because you never know how it might help you or someone else,” she said.

Positive Trends in Breast Cancer Treatment

Dr. Abhenil Mittal, an oncologist from Sudbury, also spoke at the event, highlighting the significant progress in breast cancer treatment. He noted that breast cancer mortality has decreased by more than 50 percent in recent decades due to advances in surgery, radiation therapy, and drug treatments.

The Luncheon of Hope fundraiser has raised over $1.1 million for cancer care and research at the Shirley and Jim Fielding Northeast Cancer Centre, and organizers are hopeful for continued donations to support new advancements in the field.