'I thought itch was a bite, doctors said I might have a year to live'
manchestereveningnews.co.ukA tanning addict who found an “insect bite” on his back was left horrified after getting a cancer diagnosis and being told he may only have 12 months to live.
But four years later, Jak Howell has beaten the cancer, and sworn off sunbeds for life. Jak hit the headlines after revealing his health battle at just 21 years old.
Following years of using sunbeds several times a week – getting his first tan at just 16 – he was heartbroken to find out he had stage three advanced melanoma.
The only sign had been a tiny spot that soon began to itch and bleed. Jak, from Swansea, has now announced that he is cancer-free – with a video on TikTok of his story getting over 4.5m views. “I felt a spot on my back, which was sore to touch and seemed to be raised,” Jak said. “It got super itchy and uncomfortable. “I thought it was an insect bite but then it started to bleed, and I noticed I was really fatigued and feeling quite down. “I asked my mum to take a look at the area and her face told me immediately [that the news was bad].
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