Lebanese Tattoo Artist Helps Breast Cancer Survivors to Heal

Lebanese tattoo artist Joa Antoun attends an interview with Reuters at her studio in Dekwaneh, Lebanon March 11, 2022. Picture taken March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Emilie Madi
Lebanese tattoo artist Joa Antoun attends an interview with Reuters at her studio in Dekwaneh, Lebanon March 11, 2022. Picture taken March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Emilie Madi
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Lebanese Tattoo Artist Helps Breast Cancer Survivors to Heal

Lebanese tattoo artist Joa Antoun attends an interview with Reuters at her studio in Dekwaneh, Lebanon March 11, 2022. Picture taken March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Emilie Madi
Lebanese tattoo artist Joa Antoun attends an interview with Reuters at her studio in Dekwaneh, Lebanon March 11, 2022. Picture taken March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Emilie Madi

For Lebanese breast cancer survivor Roula Saad, a decade-long struggle with the disease was not over until tattoo artist Joa Antoun concealed her surgical scars, helping her deal with the physical and psychological impact of a double mastectomy.

“I hated looking at myself in the mirror, I changed a lot. I felt I was forced to live in a state of grief, I was mourning my femininity and the loss of part of my body,” Reuters quoted Saad as saying. “I was not reconciled with myself at all, nor with my own image.”

The mother of two now proudly wears her tattoo designs as a testament to her victory over the disease. She described it as a therapeutic and life-changing experience, adding: “It was like being born again.”

In addition to offering tattoos to conceal surgical scars, tattoo artist Antoun, 31, has also been offering free tattoos.

Often in their 50s, many of the women she works with were reluctant at first, she said, reflecting social taboos in Lebanon.

“They thought that it was not worth it, that it was too late for them. But getting these tattoos is becoming more normalized and accepted,” added Antoun, who also helped survivors of the 2020 Beirut port explosion cover their scars with tattoos.

Marie-Therese Chamma, a 52-year-old who had treatment, said shedding her hair and losing weight was not as troubling for her as losing her breasts to the disease.

“I looked at myself and could see the scars … I could not fully accept what was happening to me, but told myself I can always change things after finishing (treatment),” she said.

After viewing Antoun’s website, she decided to seek her help: “I was very hesitant but I felt that she is aware of how we feel and of our fears so I called and took an appointment.”



Canadian Flag Sales Surge after Trump Threats

A Canadian flag flies next to the entry to the border crossing at Rainbow Bridge International on February 04, 2025 in Niagara Falls, Canada. (Getty Images via AFP)
A Canadian flag flies next to the entry to the border crossing at Rainbow Bridge International on February 04, 2025 in Niagara Falls, Canada. (Getty Images via AFP)
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Canadian Flag Sales Surge after Trump Threats

A Canadian flag flies next to the entry to the border crossing at Rainbow Bridge International on February 04, 2025 in Niagara Falls, Canada. (Getty Images via AFP)
A Canadian flag flies next to the entry to the border crossing at Rainbow Bridge International on February 04, 2025 in Niagara Falls, Canada. (Getty Images via AFP)

Canadian flagmaker Flags Unlimited's sales have doubled from a year earlier, the company's owners said, as tensions with the neighboring United States fuel a wave of patriotism.

The increase in sales comes ahead of Canada's national flag day on February 15, marking the 60th anniversary of the red and white maple leaf banner's debut in Ottawa.

Matt Skipp, co-owner of Flags Unlimited in Barrie, north of Toronto, attributes the spike in demand to threats from US President Donald Trump over Canadian sovereignty.

"It's a direct response to the political climate, with Canadians rallying behind their flag as a symbol of unity," Skipp said.

Canadian politicians have called on citizens to display the national flag this weekend to demonstrate that unity and their national pride.

Canadians have canceled trips south of the border, boycotted US products and even booed at sporting events after Trump announced 25% tariffs on most of Canada's goods on February 3, though he has since delayed the tariffs.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week told a room of business leaders he thought Trump's talk about absorbing Canada as the 51st US state "is a real thing" and is linked to the country's rich natural resources, a government source said.

Flags Unlimited, which produces more than 500,000 flags annually, is considering additional shifts and sourcing extra materials to meet the surge in demand, Skipp said.

The company manufactures and assembles the flags in Ontario, though it imports some of its materials from overseas.

Mike Allen, who works in the auto parts industry, visited the store to buy a flag on Wednesday. Allen said he opposed US tariffs, due to concerns about the direct impact on his job.

The auto industry in North America is highly integrated, and companies have warned that tariffs would also raise costs for Americans.

"We're not the enemy. It's hard to understand why we're being attacked," Allen said.