'Take a cut out of cancer'

As part of his community integration project, "Take A Cut Out of Cancer," Andrew Pelikan of Kirkwood, who is a third-year medical student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, is reaching out to Sikeston-area beauticians and barbers, asking them to scan their clients for possible skin cancer. Pelikan said many skin cancers arise around the neck, face and ears, and beauticians and barbers are among those who can easily spot any unusual moles or lesions.
(Photo by Jill Bock, Staff )

leonnah@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- A Kirkwood medical student is pulling the Sikeston community together to increase the chances of detecting skin cancer earlier.

As part of his community integration project, Andrew Pelikan -- a third-year medical student at the University of Missouri-Columbia -- is reaching out to local beauticians and barbers, asking them to scan their clients for possible skin cancers.

"So many skin cancers arise around the neck, face and ears," Pelikan explained. "A lot of the skin cancer is really important to catch early."

Pelikan has visited about six different Sikeston-area barber and/or beauty shops and provided them pamphlets about possible physical signs of skin cancer.

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