This covered image shows the 6 women disseminating breast cancer awareness and they wear light pink T-shirts with smiles.

8 Unique DIY T-Shirt Ideas to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness

Written by Winnie Nyokabi

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Reading time for 5 min

Koodles to the people helping create awareness on breast cancer. You’ll be glad to know that your efforts help marginalized individuals or groups get professional assistance from NGOs and medical practitioners.

If you're looking to join the millions raising breast cancer awareness, branded T-shirts are a great way to start. Also, you don't have to buy expensive branded clothing but rather opt for DIY options. Worry less, if wondering how to start, the following article looks at the best DIY breast cancer ideas.

We'll look at various designs and how you can make them to help the course. This includes cheap or priceless options requiring basic and easy-to-get tools. Let's get started and fight breast cancer together! 

DIY Breast Cancer Awareness Shirt Ideas

Before looking at the ideas, you need to gather several things and know the appropriate and easiest printing methods. Here are the essentials for creating the best breast cancer awareness t-shirts.

  • Suitable Printing methods : You can rely on screen printing, HTV, and heat paper transfer.

  • Get your T-shirts : Ensure to get the right color shade, preferably pink. When getting alternative shades, incorporate pink into your design components.

That’s what you need if it's your first time designing a t-shirt. Let's get started on creative shirt ideas:

1. ‘I'm a Breast Cancer Survivor’ Shirt Idea

If you’re a cancer survivor, a DIY shirt print can help you inspire another breast cancer survivor. You can express this through printing phrases like:

‘I’m a breast cancer survivor.’

‘I beat Cancer last year, you can't do it’

‘I punched cancer's butt’

‘I am stronger than cancer, I am healed!’ 

‘Lost one breast, but still stronger.’

Additionally, you can add your photo to the back of the T-shirt to show the level of improvement one can achieve. For instance, the mentioned phrases can resonate well with a photo of you when you had to shave your hair.

This image shows 2 sample T-shirt ideas about Breast Cancer Awareness sourced from Designcrowd.
Image source: Designcrowd

2. Experiment with the Breast Cancer Logo/Pink Ribbon

Prioritizing the breast cancer logo as the primary t-shirt component can be a creative way of raising awareness. Moreover, experimenting with the logo helps you explore your artistic side. You'll need to use computer software like Photoshop to make illustrative designs for the logo.

A great tip is using different elements like bras to create smaller logo versions. Other simple but creative options include the following:

Filling the t-shirt with smaller versions of the logo.

Stretching out the ribbon. They can create a boundary for other components of the design.

Covering the entire t-shirt with a big breast cancer logo.

Have the logo stretch to the back of the t-shirt.

Additionally, try different shades of pink when using multiple logos. This can also work when printing shirts for different individuals, helping bring diversity to events like breast cancer awareness walks or marathons.

This image shows a black T-shirt with 6 designs about Breast Cancer Awarenes sourced from Etsy.
Image Source: etsy

3. Inspirational Quotes

Cancer patients will appreciate some inspiration, and a good way to start is by writing it on a t-shirt. Various ways can come in handy, including Bible verses or your original phrases.

Fortunately, printing methods like screen printing can help you combine different quotes. Alternatively, use Photoshop to write different quotes and use the HTV printing method.

Here are quotes to inspire a close friend/family member who's a breast cancer patient:

“This too shall pass."

" You're not alone in this, darling.” (front side)

" We've got your back.” (T-shirt's back)

“You’ll beat chemo like Tyson.”

"Keep believing. We believe in you.”

"Cancer is tough, but so are you."

" We'll be with you always."

If you're not the sentimental kind, read a book or two for some inspiration.

This image shows the word design "This is what a warrior looks like"  about Breast Cancer Awareness sourced fromTeepublic.
Image Source: Teepublic

4. Use Witty Quotes

Sometimes, it's best to use Witty quotes to cheer up the breast cancer patient. It can work when visiting individual patients in hospitals or chemo centers. However, be sensitive with your language.

Below are some witty quotes to use on the pink t-shirt:

"Let's kick breast cancer’s butt in stilettos."

"Sorry cancer, you chose the wrong bi*** to mess with."

"Pink is not just a color, it’s an attitude against breast cancer."

"My boobs tried to kill me, so they had to go. No hard feelings."

"Let's save the tatas, cancer chose to ruin the wrong pair."

"No offense, I don't wanna feed my babies formula milk."

You can play with words as you please. Just don't use vulgar language. Remember to combine these phrases with a pink ribbon.

This image shows the word design "Kiss my pink sass" about  Breast Cancer Awareness sourced from Poshmark.
Image Source:  Poshmark

5. Promote Breast Cancer Awareness Events and Centers

Informing patients about where they can get medical assistance or advice is crucial. Having the info printed on t-shirts can also help third parties get necessary data to relay to close friends or relatives suffering from breast cancer.

Additionally, you can design T-shirts for various cancer events, such as marathons, school awareness seminars, or the launch of cancer medical or awareness centers.

Here are examples of how to create your DIY t-shirts:

  • Label the name of the event on a pink shirt.

  • Creatively combining the events' logo plus the pink ribbon. (Add a plus sign between the logos).

  • Design the events' or center's logo with the pink ribbon.

Additionally, you can organize a personal cancer awareness event, allowing you to customize your designs fully and incorporate all the discussed ideas. Screen printing might be the best method since you might need to print many t-shirts. Perhaps you can invite some breast cancer survivors to help with printing.

This image show the word design "Together we fight" about Breast Cancer Awareness sourced from Printerval.
Image Source: Printerval

6. Style Your Flag with Cancer Awareness Color Combinations and Logo

If you live in the U.S., multiple ways allow you to make it all about cancer awareness. For instance, turn the stars into pink or use smaller versions of the pink ribbon. Also, use pink instead of red. 

Under the customized flag, add inspirational quotes or the event/cancer awareness center slogan below. Another tip is covering the flag with a pink ribbon.

This image shows the Chalkboard colored American flag pattern about Breast Cancer Awareness sourced from printerval.
Image Source:  Printerval

7. Using Artistic & Inspirational Drawings

You can also channel your creativity to create awareness. This is done through artistic drawing and breast cancer components like pink colors, ribbons, and breast or bra drawings.

Yes, you already have your own ideas as an artist, but here are some artistic examples:

  • A mock of a butterfly using the pink ribbons.

  • Breast drawings using cancer phrases.

  • Draw pink stilettos and write a quote.

  • A flower art using small breast cancer logos.

  • Use feathers to design the ribbon.

Lastly, experiment with the heart shape to show love to cancer patients. A simple design is using a fully pink version and add inspirational phrases like, “we love you, you're not fighting alone.”

This image shows  a black T-shirt with pink flower and Gruidae about Breast Cancer Awareness sourced from Printerval.
Image Source: Printerval

8. Creating Awareness Through Sports

If you're a sports fan, you can create awareness among large crowds through inspiring homemade t-shirts. A simple way is to add your favourite game’s ball to a pink t-shirt. Remember to include inspirational, most preferably related to the sport. A quoted example can be:

"Let’s team up and fight breast cancer!"

“A goal saves a breast.”

"We’re on your cheering squad. You can make it."

Also, try being creative with ribbons, like including them in the ball, bat, or racket design. Also, you can distribute some t-shirts to fans to help reach out to more numbers after the event.

This image shows the word design "Strikeout breast cancer" about Breast Cancer Awareness sourced from Walmart.
Image Source:  Walmart

Those are just some of the ideas you can use. However, they shouldn’t limit you from trying other images, like animated images, or using objects like mugs or plates with certain messages. Additionally, you can expound on the mentioned t-shirt ideas, such as using words to create a heart-shaped inspirational message.

So, which of our mentioned DIY designs interest you or fit your context? Create and print the t-shirts and be amongst the good samaritans helping create breast cancer. It’s also a great way to motivate affected patients, helping them know they’re never alone in their recovery journey.