The Canadian Press
Published Monday, Sep. 3, 2012 7:58AM EDT
TORONTO — It could appear on your scalp. Or the sole of your foot. Under a fingernail. Or on a stretch of your back that is virtually impossible to see without a three-way mirror.
Skin cancers can show up anywhere. And while we all should be keeping an eye out for moles on our skin that are changing colour or size, there are a lot of other people who can help detect skin cancer as well.
Your hairdresser or barber sees far more of your scalp than you ever will. A massage therapist gets a great view of a client’s back. A podiatrist can see the undersides of feet or the cracks between toes.
Any person who provides a health-related service — they are often called allied medical professionals — or even a beauty-based one can play a role in early detection of skin cancer, suggests Dr. Richard Langley, president-elect of the Canadian Dermatology Association.
