The other day, I went to the park with some friends. After spending some time in the lake, the boys went to light the barbecue pit and the girls sat on the grass and gossiped. I was angled towards one girl's back, and as I chatted away, I couldn't help but notice a large marking on her back that looked like a combination of all of these warning signs for skin cancer. It's something that no one would notice if she wasn't wearing a bathing suit, and while I'm certainly no doctor or even somewhat of an expert on skin cancer, I felt compelled to tell her to get it checked out, even though it would probably end up being nothing. But then again, we were having fun and I don't know her that well -- I didn't want to become 'that girl' -- the one who ruins parties by telling people they hardly know that they might have cancer. Because that girl is always such a downer. So I kept my mouth shut and am wondering now, a few days later, if I should have just said something. I suppose it's not too late. What do you think? Would you be offended or upset if someone told you that you have a suspicious mole on your back? Would you rather that person kept his or her mouth shut?
1. I was searching for some post on cancer caused by smoking because I did lose a dear friend on 1 January this year and I have found your blog and your post. It made me stop and think. That’s a tough question you are asking. We tend to blame ourselves for many things we did not do but we think we should. I could just say, it is never too late to repair, why not say gently now? Living in Australia – the land of skin cancer and having a son who loves sport but won’t go play cricket in summer because he is scared of getting one later in his live makes me really feeling for you. I hope for you to find the right answer. It seems to me you are a good and caring person.
http://www.whatsupzone.com/Health_and_Fitness/Quit_Smoking_Help.html
Posted at 9:12AM on Aug 8th 2007 by Anna Hugi