Her hairstylist noticed something unusual and told her to see a doctor: An act that saved her life
You may not think of hairstylists as first responders but from their vantage point they can be lifesavers spotting things that shouldn’t be on our scalps.
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer around the world. If caught early the chances for survival are extraordinarily high. However, if left untreated the outlook for the sufferer can quickly deteriorate.
That’s why Cathy Burds was lucky that her hairstylist, who also happens to be her cousin, has a sharp eye. During a routine visit in December, Elizabeth Hoyt noticed an unusual mark on Burds’ scalp and told her: “Girl, you better listen to me, do what I said. Go to a dermatologist!”
Hairstylist’s astute observation saves client’s life
It was a good thing Burds listened to her cousin/hairstylist as what had been treated twice by her practitioner as a wart was in fact confirmed to be skin cancer by a dermatologist. “She is one in a million, in my opinion. I am lucky she does her job. She saves lives,” Burd told CBS News praising Hoyt.
Hoyt feels that it’s just part of the job. “We take care of each other but this is part of our job. It should be. I hope it is,” she said.
“You don’t see your doctor but once a year,” Hoyt said. “She’s here about every three months. That’s enough time where I could’ve seen a difference, and I did.”
Initiative to raise awareness among hairstylists about skin cancer on clients
Burds’ and Hoyt’s story is not unique. In 2012, Dr. Deborah S. Sarnoff, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation, found herself in a similar situation. While having her hair done, a beauty professional alerted her to a suspicious lesion on her head.
Fortunately, it was benign but it got her thinking about the important role beauty professionals can play in spotting potential skin cancers. She developed an initiative called ‘Heads Up!’ which enlists dermatologists to educate beauty professionals about skin cancer and its warning signs thus turning them into first responders in the fight against skin cancer.
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