Creative: João Viegas
with Andre Rodrigues
ttps://themarkoflife.com/
The Mark of Life turns radiation tattoos into symbols of survival
Fuck Cancer and Mischief @ No Fixed Address are pairing cancer survivors with tattoo artists to transform radiotherapy marks into personal body art
By Adam Woodward 14/11/2025
Non-profit Fuck Cancer and creative agency Mischief @ No Fixed Address have launched The Mark of Life, which pairs cancer survivors who have undergone radiation therapy with tattoo artists, transforming their treatment marks into customised works of body art.
The radiation dot ‘tattoos’ applied during external beam radiotherapy are part of the precision aiming process – tiny ink dots and markers that guide oncologists. While clinically vital, for many survivors they remain daily reminders of trauma and vulnerability.
According to one study, around 70% of women treated for breast cancer with radiotherapy reported negative feelings about those marks – and 78% would have preferred treatment without them, even if it meant additional travel or inconvenience.
