Would you say anything?

[Ambersmom]

I'm kind of in a quandry about this, the other day I was in the post office and the guy in front of me had a large bad looking growth on his neck. I figure there was no way he couldn't not know about it but it was on the back of his neck, but then I started to wonder if I should say something to him about getting it looked at. I ended up deciding to mind my own business and not say anything. But anyone else ever encountered this? Did you say anything? A nurse friend of mine told me she saw a lady sitting in front of her in a movie theater with a mole that looked like skin cancer and just leaned over and said "I'm a nurse you need to get your mole checked" The woman spit out her popcorn and changed her seat. I mean it seems right to say something but it also seems wrong, like invading privacy.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

I'm old, 69 this coming March,

While one of my stints in LTC/SNH......one of my really sweet little residents.....wanted me to get an "age spot"

I that like a "beauty mark" of old Hollywood fame?

[Wuzzie]

Though there was also a home improvement show on HLN where a nurse in TVland called the show to tell the guy he should have that goiter on his neck looked at. Turns out it was a thyroid problem.

Actually it was thyroid cancer!!!

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

Actually it was thyroid cancer!!!

That is certainly a problem! Thanks for clarifying and admitting you watch mind-rot TV too.

[Wuzzie]

That is certainly a problem! Thanks for clarifying and admitting you watch mind-rot TV too.

Your secret is safe with me!

[Orion81RN]

Id personally feel uncomfortable saying something, BUT....I'd rather take the risk of them being offended and possibly helping them get something checked out that ends up being something NEEDED to get checked out.

Sure, they may know; they may already be seeing a healthcare professional, but again, I'd rather err on the side of caution. Let them be offended or annoyed. I would NOT offer medical advice. I would recommend seeing someone.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I wouldn't mention it unless the person was a close friend or relative.

I remember having an enormous cold sore on my nose -- huge, impossible to miss and very painful. SO many people pointed it out to me -- in the doctor's office waiting room (maybe that's why I was in the doctor's office!), the pharmacy (and that's why I'm getting this prescription filled), in the grocery store, in the parking lot in front of my condo -- everywhere! It just never stopped. I wouldn't want to inflict that on anyone.

A big growth on the neck is something that no one could miss having. So is being fat, and I wish I had a dollar for every time someone (usually male) told me I was fat.

[Davey Do]

A guy walks into his doctor's office with a parrot on his shoulder. The doctor asks, "What can I do for you?" The parrot replies, "Get this idiot off of my foot!"

BA-BOOM!

[jodispamodi]

I had a family member who lived in another state who had a lump on his neck, being a guy of course he just brushed it off-didn't think it was anything, Gosh how I wish one person would have said something to him, told him to get it checked out... yes it was cancer. Its hard to say something to a stranger, but I'd like to think I'd say something, particularly if the lump or whatever looked like early stages, later stages they probably know, but early stages may be just hopeful wishing/denial that "its nothing" or will go away.

[wondern, ASN]

Excuse me nurse but you have a baby.....

[Serhilda, ADN, RN]

I wouldn't tell strangers my thoughts but I do tell friends and acquaintances. I never diagnose of course (nothing I've seen posted here would count as diagnosing anyway), but I will advise someone to see a doctor and tell them why.

Fun story, I was on a first date with a guy and it was going really well. He was a redhead that worked in construction and got sun burns frequently. He had his arm on the table leaning toward me and I noticed a very familiar, circular and dry, almost crusty looking pink spot on his arm, smaller than a nickle. Without being too weird, I asked him how long it'd been there, etc, and expressed my concerns. Turns out his mom is a nurse practitioner and she sent a picture to his dermatologist who wanted him in soon to possibly have cryotherapy because she was concerned it was squamous cell carcinoma. Now I don't know if I'd diagnose via text message like she did, but he and his mom sure were thankful I noticed that on a first date!

[Crystal-Wings, LVN]

No, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that. More than likely that guy knows there is something on the back if it's as big as you say it is.

[Munch]

An emergency is a different story. If someone hit their head or something I would do what I could to help out until EMS arrived. Friends and family are a different story too as well. My sister is always calling me up when my nephew is sick. "He fell and hit his head and now he is lethargic" my reply:" didn't you say you gave him a benadryl earlier because his allergies were bothering him?"