MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
HAIR STYLIST HERALDED AS AN EVERYBODY HERO
Ingrid Mallia Panozzo of Just Cuts™ Wollongong makes life-saving cancer discovery while giving a haircut
Who would have thought that a visit to your local hairdresser could prove to be a life-saving decision? That’s exactly happened when John Whittington, a Wollongong local, visited Just Cuts™ Wollongong in April this year.
During his haircut, his hair stylist Ingrid Mallia Panozzo, also a resident of Wollongong, noticed an irregular lump on John’s scalp. “It wasn’t like anything I had ever seen before – we often notice scars and moles, but this didn’t seem normal”, says Ingrid.
After sticking with her gut instinct and insisting that he have the mole checked out, John decided to follow Ingrid’s advice and popped straight into see a doctor just downstairs from the salon. It turns out that this was the best decision he’s ever made.
“I was diagnosed with an advanced malignant melanoma. I had two operations soon after the diagnosis – firstly to have the tumour removed and another to remove some affected glands. I have 47 staples and 12 stitches as proof!”, says John.
John is awaiting results from further testing to get a better understanding of his prognosis. It wasn’t until May that was well enough to visit Ingrid in the very salon she discovered the tumour with a box of chocolate and a world of thanks.
John attributes the discovery to Ingrid’s nurturing nature. “If she hadn’t been so caring, sincere and insistent and told me that there was a doctor’s surgery just downstairs, I would never have had it checked out”, he says.
And of course, luck or fate must have played a part. Ingrid works in a few Just Cuts™ salons owned by Lynne Ryan in the area and just happened to be in Wollongong on the day John decided to visit. “Ingrid moves between salons all week. She was in the right place at the right time that day and so was John – thank goodness!”, says Lynne.
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For further information and to organise a photo or interview with Ingrid Mallia Panozzo, John Whittington or Lynne Ryan, Owner of Just Cuts™ Wollongong, please contact:
Vanessa Debreczeni
Just Cuts™ Brand and Communications Manager
P | +61(2) 9527 5444
E | vanessa@justcuts.com
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