I really need advice. Twice in the last week I've been around people - friends but not super close friends - who obviously need to seek medical treatment for something and I don't know how to handle this. Do you tell them? If so, how?
I'm more concerned with one situation than the other. A person I have known for a long time has a lesion on her head and I'm 99% sure its melanoma. Now, I haven't biopsied this lesion, so I don't "know", but it sure looks like it. My husband told me not to say anything to her because she sees physicians all the time for an unrelated illness and that surely if it was worrisome one of them would have said something to her. I don't believe this, there is no way any physician would leave that lesion in place to watch unless it already has been biopsied and I'm wrong - which of course is possible.
What would you do?! I certainly don't want to scare her, but I am having a really hard time with the thought of NOT saying anything, and it being melanoma.
I just kept thinking that if I didn't mention it, and it did turn out to be something, I'd really hate myself.
Right. And I don't think she's going to get mad or think you're being nosy. She might get scared, but I'm sure she's wondered about that thing herself. She might even think that her regular docs are aware of it and that's why she hasn't gone to a specialist.
mandana
347 Posts
Thanks everyone a bunch. I'm stunned at such a huge consensus. Relieved, but surprised.
I just kept thinking that if I didn't mention it, and it did turn out to be something, I'd really hate myself.
Amanda