A VISIT to the salon for his monthly haircut could have saved a farmer's life.
David Edmunds, 65, has praised hairdresser Debbie Skoyles after she noticed a worrying growth on his scalp.
After urging him to see the doctor, the growth was removed and Mr Edmunds was told it could have turned cancerous.
Such was his appreciation that he went in to Fe'Male Ego in Hessle Road, west Hull, this week with a bunch of flowers to thank Debbie.
He said: "You can't look at the top of your head, so I had no idea about the spot.
"But Debbie told me I should get it looked at, which I did immediately.
"My doctor referred me to hospital and I had it surgically removed.
"While it was benign, they doctors told me it could easily have turned very nasty if it hadn't been treated.
"They told me it had to be removed sharpish.
"It could have become a real problem, but it isn't something I want to dwell on."
Mr Edmunds, who is a farmer in Wawne, near Hull, is relieved Debbie went beyond the call of duty.
He said: "I'm just glad she brought my attention to it.
"She is not medically qualified and it's not part of her job but she has certainly gone beyond her job description, which I am so grateful for."
Debbie, 40, is just pleased she was in a position to help one of her customers.
She said: "David had been in a couple of months before and I noticed this mark on his head.
"When he came back, it had grown and changed colour. I told him it was best he got it looked at.
"I had seen it in another client and knew it could be a problem.
"He was really grateful I alerted him to it.
"With him being so tall, there is little chance anyone else would have noticed it other than me."
Debbie, who started working at the salon when she was 16 years old, admits she was concerned about David after he had been in the salon.
She said: "You can't be too careful with things like this. I didn't want to worry him.
"After he had been in I continued to be worried about him.
"He came in with some flowers and told me I had saved his life.
"I dread to think what could have happened if it hadn't been discovered."
Owner of Fe'Male Ego, Donna Finn, praised Debbie for the way she dealt with the problem.
She said: "Our staff are trained to identify skin complaints on the scalp, although we don't normally deal with anything this potentially serious.
"I am very proud of Debbie, as it looks like she might have saved a client's life."
