It didn’t hurt. It didn’t itch. There was no mole, no dramatic change, just a patch, hidden under his thick curls. Initially dismissed as harmless, it was only on second thought that his family took him to see a doctor. That decision changed everything.

In November 2021, Rhys was diagnosed with melanoma. By early 2022, the cancer had already progressed to stage four, spreading rapidly to his liver, lungs, and other organs. Despite aggressive treatment, targeted therapies, radiotherapy, Rhys endured excruciating pain as the disease advanced faster than anyone could have expected.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers, and it doesn’t always follow the rules, according to the UK’s National Health Service. While commonly linked to sun exposure, Rhys’ case had no obvious environmental triggers