Trying to solve problems with insurance, tattoo artists and breast cancer survivors

Some women who undergo arduous treatments due to breast cancer turn to nipple and areola tattoos as a way to reconnect with their bodies, but not all insurance covers the process. AILSA CHANG, HOST: The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 8 American women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. A diagnosis often leads to arduous treatments that change the way a woman's body looks. Rebecca Smith with member station KBIA has more about one option for women after treatment that's helping them regain confidence in their bodies and in themselves. REBECCA SMITH, BYLINE: Best friends Jennifer Rosenblad (ph) and Amy Appold (ph) have a lot in common. A love of Colin Firth in "Pride And Prejudice," a skill for bargain hunting and they've both survived breast cancer. AMY APPOLD: I was like, another way we're connected. (LAUGHTER) APPOLD: Like, we have so much in common, and we love each other so much. And now we have this. SMITH: Rosenblad was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2023 and decided right away to have a bilateral mastectomy, a removal of both breasts, because her mother had died from the disease. She says once she recovered from surgery, she was still left with large scars across her chest. And after doing some research about reconstruction options, she decided to get nipple areola tattoos. JENNIFER ROSENBLAD: For me, the best thing was it broke up the scar because those scars that go all the way across, that's all I would see. …