Bringing cancer screening conversations to the salon chair

ANDRESON, S.C. (InvestigateTV) - Do you only go to the doctor when you have an ache or feel sick? For many women that answer can be “yes.”

A 2025 survey said that every one in six women say they missed or may have missed a routine cancer screening within the past year.

A South Carolina salon is partnering with a statewide health initiative to have important conversations about cancer screening with clients.

Kimberly Cheatham, owner of Kreative Kimistry in Anderson, has joined the Pink Palmetto Project, an effort by the South Carolina Cancer Alliance focusing on breast and cervical cancer education.

Cheatham said her clients often get personal with her.

“They confide in me when they don’t even feel comfortable telling their families things and their friends, because they know that I have a connection to them,” Cheatham said.

Personal loss drives mission

Cheatham’s mother died from colon cancer at age 62.

“I’m still dealing with the effects of it now because I have really bad PTSD about going to the doctor for, you know, getting my exams and stuff,” she said.

That loss motivates her to reach out to clients, particularly younger women.

“And that’s why I want to talk to women and just, especially like even younger women like the one that I have here, because the earlier you get this taken care of, the better,” Cheatham said.

Addressing disparities

Brenda Thorpe, senior community engagement director for the South Carolina Cancer Alliance, said data shows significant disparities in breast cancer outcomes.

“When I looked at the data, we see a huge disparity with women when it comes to breast cancer, right? That’s the most common cancer that women are impacted by. But the data also shows a disparity for African-American women. And so African-American women are diagnosed at a later stage for breast cancer,” Thorpe said.

When diagnosed in later stages, treatment is often harsher, and the chance of survival can go down. According to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, black women have a 40% higher death rate from breast cancer compared to white women.

Nicole Echols, CEO of the South Carolina Cancer Alliance, said salons provide a comfortable setting to reach women.

“We know that we can get into the spaces and have conversations and talk to women about how important it is for their breast health and how important screening is and how important early detection is and how it really can save your life,” Echols said.

The project aims to ensure women know the signs of cancer and keep up with their screenings.

“The grief and the emotions that I went through, I wouldn’t want anybody to have to go through that,” Cheatham said. “So, if you can go and prevent that from happening, then I really feel like if I can help you do that.”

Kreative Kimistry is the only salon in the Upstate participating in the Pink Palmetto Project. The South Carolina Cancer Alliance hopes to expand the program with additional funding.

Skin cancer screening

Hair stylists are playing another vital role in cancer screening.

Stylists Against Skin Cancer is a dermatologist-led educational campaign for hair professionals that focuses on the detection and prevention of skin cancer in the scalp.

Because hair professionals see the entire scalp, they can find suspicious skin growth that clients might not see or feel. Then they can encourage the customer to visit a dermatologist for further investigation.