Kate Middleton's appearance -- as one of the most photographed people in the world! -- is proof that you can't tell someone has cancer (or is on treatment) just by looking at them Her weight has fueled all sorts of speculation, and unintentional loss is one sign of malignancy (caloric balance can shift unfavorably on both sides: less intake with appetite suppression, more consumption by hypercatabolism) But even once systemic therapy begins not all chemo causes hair loss, vomiting, or immunosuppression I often tell my trainees that, in the oncology waiting room, they may not be able to distinguish the patients from their caregivers! So once again we shouldn't leap to conclusions based on superficial judgments, whether it's celebrities (see also: Chadwick Boseman) or our neighbors To quote Philip Larkin: We should be careful, of each other, we should be kind While there is still time