BREAST CANCER Brought the HORROR....PERKY Brought the PLOT TWIST
- Krystal
- Jun 4
- 7 min read
CONTENT NOTICE
This blog discusses breast cancer, mastectomy, reconstruction, DIEP flap surgery, survivorship, and restorative areola tattooing.
All imagery and references included are medical, educational, and survivorship-based in nature.
There is NO NUDITY, NO SEXUAL CONTENT, and NO PORNOGRAPHIC INTENT. Any body imagery referenced relates strictly to breast cancer reconstruction and restorative medical tattoo procedures.
Hi. I’m Krystal with a "K".
Host of Plot Twist: Still Alive.Professional chaos coordinator.Collector of dark humor.Three-time cancer survivor.
My first cancer diagnosis came as a child.Breast cancer showed up again in October 2018.And again in April 2024.
Because cancer loves sequels.
And mine came back as what I can only describe as Frankentitties 2.0 — the sequel no one asked for.
Since diagnosis I have shifted from diagnosed, to survivor, to warrior, to advocate.
I’ve watched survivors want everything from restoration to transformation. Identity gets rebuilt in real time...confidence, femininity, comfort in their own skin.
And at the center of that rebuilding, I kept seeing the same thing:
The PERKY Girls changing everything.
But we’ll get to that.....First HOW DID OUR PATHS CROSS????
BEWARE....SOME BIG PLOT TWISTS AHEAD!!!
PERKY ENTERS THE PLOT TWIST
Jen — founder of Pink Warrior Advocates — had connected with Crystal with a C and Courtney with a C, the founders of PERKY, through the breast cancer survivorship space. Within just a few months of these 3 women meeting, Jen passed away after a 3 year battle with Metastatic Breast Cancer at 41 years old. I had the honor of taking on a leadership role within Pink Warrior Advocates and continued the mission she had been building alongside others in this space.
And somehow, that same thread led me directly to PERKY.
And everything clicked.
THE PERKY GIRLS
At the center of it are Crystal with a "C "and Courtney with a "C" AKA The "PERKY Girls" who specialize in restorative care for breast cancer survivors after mastectomy and reconstruction. Find these services AND MORE at:
3D Nipple & Areola Tattooing
This is the work most people don’t know exists until they need it.
The PERKY Girls create realistic 3D nipple and areola restorations using advanced tattoo techniques designed specifically for reconstructed breasts.
It is not cosmetic. It is not vanity.
It is the moment a survivor looks in the mirror and stops seeing only what cancer stole....AND GIVES THEM BACK A PIECE OF WHAT WAS TAKEN!
Scar Camouflage
Cancer leaves enough behind already.
Scar camouflage helps soften surgical reminders so survivors can reconnect with their bodies without only seeing the fight.
Eyebrow Restoration
Because cancer rarely takes just one thing at a time, PERKY also restores brows and facial features impacted by treatment—small details that help rebuild identity piece by piece.
ADVOCATION STATION
PERKY doesn’t stop at services.They build access, advocacy, and real-world support for survivors navigating life after treatment.
PERKY Resources & Programs
PERKY Restoration Program:
full restorative pathway for breast cancer survivors after mastectomy and reconstruction. Apply for your restorative nipple tattoos to be covered here:
Bra Assistance Program (in partnership with AnaOno)
Support garments and post-surgical bras designed for survivorship comfort and reconstruction needs. Apply for a free mastectomy bra here: https://helloperky.com/pages/bra-assistance-program
PARTNERS AND OTHER ADVOCATES
AnaOno: Adaptive lingerie designed specifically for breast cancer survivors, mastectomy, reconstruction, and flat closure.
The Breasties: Community supporting survivors, previvors, and thrivers through connection, education, and visibility.
Pink Warrior Advocates: Nonprofit supporting breast cancer warriors through advocacy, education, and survivorship resources.
Dr. Schneider – Austin Face and Body: Reconstructive and aesthetic medical care supporting post-surgical healing and restoration journeys.
BEFORE YOU CONTINUE...HERE COMES THE FINAL PLOT TWIST
IF YOU HATE SPOILERS.......STOP HERE!!!!
Go watch Episode 30 of Plot Twist: Still Alive on Spotify or YouTube.
Meet Crystal with a C and Courtney with a C .Understand the full journey of a restoration from beginning to end
Turn around now if you haven’t listened yet.....LAST CHANCE!!!!!!
Because from here forward…
this is MY PERKY RESTORATION EXPERIENCE.
MY PERKY RESTORATION EXPERIENCE
Since 2018, the first time “double mastectomy” was even mentioned, I knew one thing for sure — I wanted artwork on my breasts.
But life had other plans.
I had a nipple-sparing mastectomy, followed by reconstruction with implants, so I didn’t have to make that decision at the time.
Fast forward to the SEQUEL OF FRANKENTITTIES in 2024, and suddenly after a simple revision turned into a biopsy, breast cancer diagnosis, failed implant due to wound healing issues, and the decision to do a DIEP FLAP and remove the nipples simultaneously to have the best chance NOT TO FIGHT THIS FUCKING MONSTER AGAIN… I now had that come flooding back. But nothing I could do. I was stuck in the IN BETWEEN of diagnosis and healing from 4 surgeries within a 21 month time frame. Lots of time to think. Lots of time to decide. And a lot of time to reflect on THE UNDENIABLE IMPACT I WATCHED MULTIPLE SURVIVORS HAVE AFTER BEING GIVEN THE GIFT OF THE PERKY GIRLS.
I cannot tell you how often during sex I wondered if my husband cared if I had nipples. Hell, I would ask him constantly DURING SEX. Yes, I made it awkward. Of course he always said he loved me, but he had to, right?!?!?! The intrusive thought was always there, and as many DIEP FLAPS as I had seen and beautiful as I thought those women were, I couldn't find that within myself.
Every time I looked in the mirror I was WEARING MY CANCER. The SAME WAY YOU WEAR it when you are in the throws of chemo. EVERY. FUCKING. DAY.
So I did what any strong, sarcastic survivor would do. Made dark jokes, told anyone and everyone I DON’T EVEN HAVE NIPPLES, and forced myself to own my scars, own my journey, and love the shit out of it because these are just reminders that I am stronger than the thing that tried to kill me… times 3!
And as time went on and I grew more accepting of this new body and refused to waste anymore time hating it, I realized I only wanted areola because I was afraid. Afraid that the nipples would just be a reminder of what I had and make me MISS IT.
But what I really missed was feeling WHOLE. FEELING CONFIDENT. FEELING LIKE ME AGAIN.
And all at once it dawned on me what I had personally witnessed THE PERKY GIRLS give so many beautiful warriors just that.
SO.....I CHANGED MY MIND!
I cannot express how grateful I am for them and this part of my journey. So I told Crystal with a C and Courtney with a C about it, and they were beyond thrilled and supportive.
I've been to their space countless times, but this time was so different. I wasn't going in there as an advocate working alongside other advocates to serve warriors. I WAS THE WARRIOR. It is such a warm, cute place with the most tasteful nipple decor I’ve ever seen (which makes me curious as to where they buy this shit because I doubt it's Amazon).
It was so easy to trust them both, and I honestly gave complete creative control to them. Crystal with a C helped me pick colors, talked to me about what I wanted as far as size, areola, nipple, and then we started.
Obviously we were filming the entire podcast during this time, but I know for a fact we would have those exact conversations if it had just been the 3 of us.
Listen, I already knew these women were smart, driven, and knowledgeable, but it blew my mind when Crystal with a C knew that one side would actually have some feeling in it BASED ON MY FLAPS. I was like, “IS THE C FOR CLAIRVOYANT?” but that is how well they know their craft.
While Crystal with a C was tattooing, our behind the scenes PERKY GIRL, Courtney with a C, talked to me about all of the ways to advocate for yourself with insurance companies, gave me the rundown on the newest services that they are providing which is nurse coaching, and also told me that they are sponsors for the AnaOno Bra Program. She also got emotional several times with me because we are all very close and connected.
The entire experience was beautiful, cathartic, and almost painless (keep in mind I have an arm sleeve of tattoos and enjoy that process, so it may be different for some people).
And when I, THE ARTIST FORMALLY KNOWN AS CRYSTAL WITH A C, was done I looked at what she had created. They were not like my previous nipples, they were not the same shape, size, or color…
but they were THE NEWEST VERSION of me.
the version that CHOSE to love her scars, her flipples, and proclaimed with pride and humor “I DON’T HAVE NIPPLES” was gone.
And I was absolutely moved to tears.
This was the version of me that felt WHOLE.
One of the most beautiful things that I realized was that the person that meant the world to me and gave my cancer purpose was the same woman that connected me with the two incredible humans… and that THIS VERY PODCAST would be releasing the same day as her birthday (we were actually supposed to record the week before but I was super sick).
We see you Jen.
I cannot express how fucking lucky the breast cancer community is to have these women as advocates, skilled medical professionals, and most importantly as friends.
I LOVE THESE WOMEN and what they created on me IS ART.
So I guess I got what I wanted all along. There aren't enough kind words to explain them, you just need to go experience them for yourselves.
Thank you Crystal with a C and Courtney with a C.
IN MEMORY OF JEN
This blog and episode are dedicated to Jen Reynolds. Happy birthday BOO!
We continue to keep your mission alive by serving and advocating for breast cancer warriors. I love you and miss you EVERY SINGLE DAY!
HELP US ADVOCATE:
If this story moved you…Donate to the PERKY Restoration Program through Pink Warrior Advocates in honor of Jen’s birthday. Because cancer already took enough. And this is how we give something back:
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