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.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I once was in the grocery store and walked by a mother with an approximately 6 month old in the cart. Sickest looking kid I've seen outside of the hospital. And then I heard the distinctive whoop of pertussis and watched that poor baby turn all shades of purple and gasp for air. I just could not keep on walking so I identified myself as a PICU nurse and that I suspected her child had whooping cough and needed to be seen immediately. She got all kinds of huffy and called me some really vile names. The kid arrested in the check out line.

Oh, crap. You weren't looking for that kind of vindication.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I was waiting in line at the espresso stand in the clinic I go to. The lady ahead of me was sitting on her walker seat and stated she needed orange juice because her blood sugar was low. Along with the orange juice, she bought a scone. I wanted so badly to suggest she get a string cheese instead. I just zipped it.

[djh123]

I disagree that it's diagnosing or 'taking responsibility' for anything. I read not long ago of someone who found out they had melanoma from an instance similar to the one the OP describes. I DO agree that it might be hard to bring yourself to say something to someone, so I'm not saying I would necessarily, or always, do it, but I sure don't see anything wrong with doing it.

[Davey Do]

If I were 100% sure of what I was talking about, I might say something. "Excuse me, Sir. There's a knife sticking out of the back of your head and you should seek medical attention immediately."

And I thank you, Sour lemon, for letting me know and I did take you up on your advice.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]25773[/ATTACH]

[RockinNurse2018]

More than likely not. I don't even like it when my own friends and family ask me for advice, so I'm unlikely to offer it freely to someone who doesn't know, who hasn't asked. I wouldn't want to make someone uncomfortable about a condition they are most likely already aware of. If someone looked like they might be having an emergency, that would be different, but things like skin issues, or even if the person just doesn't look well...I'm staying out of it.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, 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"

[Wuzzie]

More than likely not. I don't even like it when my own friends and family ask me for advice, so I'm unlikely to offer it freely to someone who doesn't know, who hasn't asked. I wouldn't want to make someone uncomfortable about a condition they are most likely already aware of. If someone looked like they might be having an emergency, that would be different, but things like skin issues, or even if the person just doesn't look well...I'm staying out of it.

I normally don't either but in the situation I described I really did think it was an emergency. The baby looked like it was fixing to die and well...

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I would not offer my observations to a complete stranger, as I do not know how they would take it.

My friend's boyfriend had a nasty mole on his face. I tole HER that I thought it could be skin cancer. It was, and required skin grafts. He's now okay and hugs me every chance he gets.

[Ambersmom, BSN, RN]

quote button failed, post no longer made sense.

[wondern, ASN]

If it's a helpless child whose parent seems to be ignorant, yes, but if it's an adult, I don't know, depends on the situation. It would have to be something life threatening. I guess you never know until you're in the situation yourself. I don't want to embarrass anyone in public for sure.

[Irish_Mist, BSN, RN]

I once was in the grocery store and walked by a mother with an approximately 6 month old in the cart. Sickest looking kid I've seen outside of the hospital. And then I heard the distinctive whoop of pertussis and watched that poor baby turn all shades of purple and gasp for air. I just could not keep on walking so I identified myself as a PICU nurse and that I suspected her child had whooping cough and needed to be seen immediately. She got all kinds of huffy and called me some really vile names. The kid arrested in the check out line.

Oh my God. That is so terrible. Please tell the rest of the story. Poor baby!

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

On the Dr. Pimple Popper show (yes, it's a real show on TLC) there was a guy with a huge hump on his back. It was so visible and a real embarrassment to him he kept a T-shirt slung over his shoulder to try to hide it. Turns out it was a lymphatic system drainage blockage. The Dr. drained over 800ml of fluid out of it then recommended surgery.

There was also this woman who had a lymphoma on her forehead that could pass for a Devil Horn. She tried to hide with her hair but it made her feel so self conscious she was practically a shut-in. The Dr. popped it out and totally transformed this woman back to feeling Human.

Anyway, my point is, I would assume they know about it and don't need a stranger bringing it to their attention. Let their family/friends deal with it.

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.

Perhaps I should get a life .......