'SKIN CANCER ISN'T JUST A MOLE BEING REMOVED'

Jak speaks up over sunbed dangers and illness' impact on mental health

- EMILY PHILLIPS

A SUNBED addict given a "year to live" after getting cancer wants to warn others that skin cancer "isn't just a mole being removed".

Jak Howell was just 21 in June 2021 when he discovered he had stage three advanced melanoma.

The cancer had spread dramatically from a patch of skin on his back through to his groin and chest in the space of just two months.

At the time, Jak was using sunbeds up to five times a week for 18 minutes - a habit he had from the age of 16.

Two surgeries to remove tumours on his lower back and leg were not successful.

He went through a year of immunotherapy and was given the all-clear in December 2022.

Reflecting on his experience, Jak wants to raise awareness of the "later effects of mental health having cancer".

The content creator, from Swansea, said: "It's kind of surreal. I speak to my friends and say it almost feels like it didn't happen.