'I was addicted to sunbeds at 18 - then 'bug bite' mole turned out to be cancer'
Jak Howell started hitting sunbeds at 16 'to fit in' with his college mates.
But by the time he was 18, the now-23-year-old from Swansea was lying under harmful UV lights for well over an hour every week.
He hadn't realised how out of control his addiction had become until a few years later when he came across a bleeding mole on his back - which turned out to be cancer.
After going through 'hell', fearing he might die, TikTok creator Jak - who is now in remission after receiving the all-clear in December 2022 - is campaigning for caution and tighter regulation in a bid to deter other young people from using the sunbeds.
He was using sunbeds five times a week by the age of 18 (PA Real Life)
Jak faced radiotherapy and surgery to remove the lump (PA Real Life)Jak said: "I never knew how dangerous sunbeds were, I just thought I was invincible as a teenager.
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"I wanted to share my story in the hopes it would help other people, and I've had comments from others who can relate to what I've been through.
"I haven't been on a sunbed since my diagnosis, I only use fake tan now."
Jak first started tanning on sunbeds at 16, to fit in with friends, he says.
"I'd finished school and just started college, and a lot of the people I was hanging around with were using sunbeds," he recalled.
"I was just trying to fit into what I thought was normality back then."
At first, he would tan twice a week but by the age of 18, he was using sunbeds five times a week, for 18 minutes at a time.
Hiding how often he was using them, Jak said his mum was concerned about his sunbed use.
He said: "She was definitely worried, but she didn't know how bad it'd got.
"The first shop I used to go to didn't even have a receptionist, you just paid a machine like a parking meter."
In April 2021 Jak noticed a mole on his lower back had become irritable.
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Assuming it was a bug bite he ignored it, but one day, in the shower, he realised it was bleeding.
The cancerous mole (PA Real Life)He explained: "I went running to my mum and I could tell by the look on her face that she was really worried."
Jak sent a photo of the mole to his doctor, who urged him to go immediately to hospital. There, the mole was removed and tested.
Jak recalled sitting at the top of his stairs 10 days later when he received a phone call with his results confirming a diagnosis of melanoma - a type of skin cancer often caused by too much sun exposure.
"I was sat by myself when the doctor rang to tell me I had cancer. Even though I'd been worried, I still wasn't prepared for how serious it was," he said.
"I was just speechless, I didn't know what to say. Everything went silent, my palms were soaking with sweat. I thought I was going to die.
"Afterwards, I rang my mum who rushed home from work."
Between May and September, Jak had different treatments, including two rounds of radiotherapy, but said that nothing was working for him.
In September 2021 doctors found that Jak's cancer had spread from his back to his groin, although he had no symptoms.
That same month he had surgery to remove the cancer as well as lymph nodes in his groin.
Jak said the recovery was 'hell' and two weeks after the operation, he was scanned.
He played down his addiction, thinking he was 'invincible' (PA Real Life)
He is now cancer-free (PA Real Life)He was dealt another blow – the surgery had been unsuccessful.
"The surgery hadn't worked, the cancer was still there and it was back with a vengeance," Jak said.
"I was told I'd need further treatment and that it was my last option to fight it, which was just the worst news."
Jak started immunotherapy treatment in December 2021.
He spent Christmas in hospital and, over the coming year, he had a round of treatment every six weeks until Christmas 2022.
"The first two rounds of immunotherapy were hell, it was a big shock to my body. It improved after that, but my body has changed – I'm breathless a lot and my tastebuds have changed. I was nauseous and fatigued," he said.
"But I hate the thought of something controlling me and dictating my life, so I just tried my hardest to continue to be the person I always was, even though it was difficult at times."
By December 2022, Jak finally received the all-clear and is now in remission.
Since his diagnosis, Jak has been raising awareness about sunbeds and sharing his experience on social media, which has now become his full-time job.
He said he has received comments on TikTok videos from other sunbed users.
He said: "I hope my story can be a warning to other people, I don't think enough people realise how dangerous sunbeds are.
"You need ID to buy an energy drink in a supermarket, but I've seen kids being able to use sunbeds no problem.
"I use fake tan now instead because I don't want to go through another diagnosis.
"I work with a lot of charities now and I'm just trying to raise as much awareness as I can."
Jak is supporting Cancer Research UK's Race for Life 2023, in partnership with Standard Life, which is in its 30th year – for more information, visit raceforlife.org.
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