3 minute read
My hairdresser discovered my skin cancer
Hairdressers and barbers are helping to prevent a close shave with skin cancer says Breast and General Surgeon Dr Mary Ling.
For Roslyn Raison, a regular cut, colour and coif turned out to be more than she bargained for recently, when a quick-thinking hairdresser discovered skin cancer of the scalp.
“I didn’t feel or see anything because I have very thick hair and always wear hats,” says Roslyn from McMasters Beach.
“I was very grateful because I don’t think I would have noticed myself.”
Roslyn is not alone, with the Central Coast now one of the top five skin cancer hotspots in NSW.
And it is our hairdressers and barbers, who are uniquely positioned to help patients act early on skin cancers including lethal melanomas and BCCs (Basal Cell Carcinomas) like Roslyn’s.
Although skin cancer on the scalp is less common, it can be harder to treat as patients present at a more advanced stage because they don’t notice anything different.
Whilst melanomas can be lethal, if diagnosed early, most can be treated.
Barber Errol Baker from Fox and Blade, Empire Bay, is the first to admit he is not a doctor.
“But because we are in people’s hair every few weeks, quite often we alert people about gnarly spots and moles and urge them to see a doctor,” he says. Do you know your ABC’s? The “ABCDE” rule is helpful in remembering the warning signs of melanoma. Asymmetry (or moles that can’t be cut in half) Borders that are irregular Colour that is not uniform Diameter that is bigger than a pencil rubber and Evolving – moles that change shape, grow or bleed. Ask someone to regularly examine your scalp using a hair dryer on cool to separate hair at home, or ask your hairdresser. Use all FIVE forms of sun protection. SLIP on protective clothing, SLOP on SPF 30 (or higher) sunscreen, SLAP on a hat, SEEK shade, SLIDE on sunglasses. Be a SunSmart r ole model for your kids too – teach them the five forms of protection and don’t let them burn. Remember cancer can also hide on body parts not exposed to sun too – eg soles of feet, fingernails and toenails, under breasts, and on buttocks. Hair today, gone tomorrow…your hairdryer might be your secret weapon in the war on skin cancer. Dr Ling’s top tips to fight skin cancer Did you know?
More than half of all hairdressers had referred customers for a skin check according to one medical report in the Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology (2019). Central Coast barber Errol Baker at Copacobana with skin cancer patient Roslyn Raison.
Dr Mary Ling is a Breast and General Surgeon who consults at Gosford, Woy Woy and Kanwal.
& 02 4321 0302 www.drmaryling.com.au
@drmaryling
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