Beauty salons new battlegrounds in fight against breast cancer

Sixteen west suburban and West Side salons are hosting an innovative "Mammograms for Mother's Day" initiative sponsored by state Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood).

Nurses from Loyola University Medical Center and Loretto Hospital, along with Lightford’s 4th District Gentlemen's Committee, will visit beauty salons from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12, the day before Mother's Day.

A dozen or more men from the 4th District Gentlemen's Committee and numerous nurse educators will talk about the importance of breast exams and mammograms and distribute educational materials and small gifts, such as key chains and back massagers.

"Beauty salons are great places to get the word out about breast cancer prevention and the critical need for early detection," Lightford said.

A study published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved found that hair salons "are a potentially important venue for promotion of health behaviors related to breast cancer detection."

"By spreading messages that can save lives, men are showing their love and concern for the women of our community," Lightford said.

Conversely, on the day before Father's Day, women from the 4th District will visit barbershops to educate men about prostate cancer screenings and prevention. They will be accompanied by Loretto and Loyola nurses.

Two teams will fan out and visit beauty salons in Austin, Bellwood, Berwyn, Broadview, Forest Park, Oak Park, Westchester and other communities in Lightford's 4th District.

Provided by Loyola University Health System