On the Coast – Over 55 Issue 34 I March/February 2020 | Page 6

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.
F
or 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
Central Coast barber Errol
cancers including lethal
Baker at Copacobana with skin
melanomas and BCCs
cancer patient Roslyn Raison.
(Basal Cell Carcinomas)
like Roslyn’s.
advanced stage because they don’t notice
Although skin cancer on the scalp is
anything different.
less common, it can be harder
Whilst melanomas can be lethal, if
to treat as patients
present at a more
Did you know? diagnosed early, most can be treated.
Barber Errol Baker from Fox and
More than half of all
hairdressers had referred
Blade, Empire Bay, is the first to
customers for a skin check
admit he is not a doctor.
according to one medical
“But because we are in people’s
ƒ Ask someone to regularly examine your scalp using a
report in the Jour nal of
hair
every few weeks, quite often
hair dryer on cool to separate hair at home, or ask your
The American Academy
we alert people about gnarly spots
hairdresser.
of Dermatology
and moles and urge them to see a
ƒ Use all FIVE forms of sun protection. SLIP on
(2019).
doctor,
” he says.
protective clothing, SLOP on SPF 30 (or higher)
Dr Ling’s top tips to fight skin cancer
sunscreen, SLAP on a hat, SEEK shade,
SLIDE on sunglasses.
ƒ Be a SunSmart role model for your kids too –
teach them the five forms of protection
and don’t let them burn.
ƒ 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.
Do you know your ABC’s?
The “ABCDE” rule is helpful in
remembering the warning signs of
melanoma.
A symmetry (or moles that can’t
be cut in half)
Borders that are irregular
Colour that is not uniform
D iameter that is bigger than a
pencil rubber and
E volving – moles that change shape,
grow or bleed.
Hair today, gone tomorrow…your
hairdryer might be your secret
weapon in the war on skin cancer.
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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