For Skin Cancer Awareness Month, leading UK charity Melanoma Focus has launched an awareness campaign that aims to turn a regular appointment, notably a haircut, into a potentially life-saving event.
Every year, more than 19,000 new cases of melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed in the UK alone, a rate that has risen by 31% in the last decade. Research shows that in men, about 1 in 4 cases of melanoma are found in hard-to-spot areas such as the scalp and neck, which is why they are sometimes called “invisible killers”.
However, there’s one type of person who regularly looks at these hard-to-spot areas: barbers.
They work in close contact with customers’ heads, necks and scalps every day. While many barbers lack the basic knowledge to recognise early signs of skin cancers, 92% of them say they are willing to learn these life-saving skills.
“The Life Saving Haircut”, a new and free handbook for barbers, won’t teach them how to cut hair, but to spot potential signs of skin cancers. Developed with experts, the guide provides barbers with the guidance to start a conversation with customers.
Jake is the owner of the No Bad Days Barbershop in Medway, Kent, and helped identify a cyst on his client’s head. Jake said:
“I’ve been cutting Luke’s hair for a while, and I obviously get to see parts of his head that he doesn’t get to see. One day I was doing a skin fade and noticed a slight raise on the back of his head. I took some photos to show him and suggested he get it checked out by the GP. Luke is a lovely lad and I’m really happy we were able to pick this up early for him, as it ended up requiring surgery to remove a cyst.”
Luke Graham said: “Jake noticed a slight recurring spot on my neck at the bottom of my hairline a few times when cutting my hair, which developed into a lump. I decided to get this checked out, and it turned out to be a benign cyst that would require surgery to remove. Jake was always aware of the lump and took great care when cutting my hair so as to not aggravate it further.”
Lisa Andrews, a barber from L.A.Barbers in Widley, added:
“I’ve been running my salon for 16 years when, during a haircut, I noticed an unusual mark near a regular client’s hairline. Because we knew each other well, I suggested he get it checked. He mentioned it to his GP, was referred for removal, and it turned out to be skin cancer. I’m really glad I spoke up – it meant it was treated in time.”
Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, said:
“Barbers are in a privileged position, seeing the same clients regularly. This handbook can help them to notice a mole that has changed, looks odd, or is new. Spotting something allows the client to follow up with their GP and in many cases, it won’t be anything to worry about. However, if it is skin cancer and caught early, the cure rates are very high.”
Robert Shelton, a barber from Barbers in Old Portsmouth in Portsmouth, said:
“A regular client came in every six weeks, and one day I spotted a suspicious mole on the top of his ear. I urged him to get it checked. When he came back, he thanked me: it was melanoma. Thankfully, it was caught in time, though he had to have part of his ear removed.”
Chris Ward, a barber from Huckle in London added:
“Back in 2018, while working at my shop on Old Street, I was cutting a regular’s hair. As I parted his hair, I noticed a mole on the top of his scalp that I hadn’t seen before. Over the months, it appeared irregular and seemed to have changed in both shape and size. I eventually mentioned it to him and suggested that he have it checked by a doctor, just to be safe. He took the advice and went for a medical examination. The mole was removed, and the tests later confirmed that it was melanoma skin cancer. Thankfully, it had been caught in time”
Several industry professionals, independent barbershops, and creatives from different areas donated their time and talent to bringing this project to life. A printed limited edition of the guide will be distributed during Skin Cancer Awareness Month to make it a widely adopted tool in barbershops and barber schools across the UK. A PDF digital version of the book can be downloaded directly from the Melanoma Focus website.
Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the UK. It can be deadly but it’s easier to treat if it is diagnosed early. Melanoma Focus runs a free and confidential helpline at 0808 801 0777.
Campaign Collective is a campaign partner to Melanoma Focus.