At 28 years old, I received a late diagnosis of melanoma — something I never imagined would happen to me. Like many people, I thought melanoma was “just skin cancer”. I now know how dangerously wrong that belief is.

After my diagnosis, I underwent surgery to remove the primary melanoma along with the lymph nodes in my groin. At that point, I was stage 3C. Despite everything I hoped for, the cancer progressed, and I was later diagnosed with stage 4C melanoma. It had spread to my spine, ribs, pelvis, femurs, lungs, liver, spleen, and breast.

I began immunotherapy and, after an incredibly challenging battle both physically and emotionally, I responded well. Treatment was brutal at times. I was admitted to the hospital on numerous occasions, spent a period in a wheelchair when I was unable to walk, and became severely underweight. At my lowest point, I required support from a palliative care nurse and was given medication through a syringe driver.

Over the following months, a miracle happened, and my scans showed my body fighting back and becoming clear of disease — something I am deeply grateful for and a powerful reminder of what treatment and research can achieve.

As I approached my 30th birthday, I truly believed I was about to hear the words I had been waiting so long for: “no evidence of disease.”

Instead, I received devastating news. The melanoma had metastasised to my brain. I am now stage 4D. While there is currently no evidence of disease elsewhere in my body, melanoma has once again found a new place to appear.

In the coming week, I will start SRS radiotherapy, facing yet another hurdle in a journey that never seems to pause. Living with melanoma means living with constant scans, uncertainty, and the reality that this disease is a life-threatening lottery — never knowing where or when it may turn up next.

This is why awareness matters so deeply to me. Melanoma is not just skin cancer. It spreads fast. It spreads aggressively. And it can change — or end — lives far quicker than people realise.

I’m raising money for Melanoma Focus, a charity that is very close to me. They support patients and families, educate the public and professionals, and fund vital research. Their work is essential in helping people understand the seriousness of melanoma and improving outcomes for those facing this diagnosis.

If sharing my story helps even one person get a mole checked earlier, recognise warning signs, stop using sunbeds or understand how serious melanoma truly is, then speaking up is worth it. If you’re able to donate — no matter how small — you’ll be helping to raise awareness, fund research, and support others walking this same path.

Thank you for reading, for supporting me, and for helping spread the message that melanoma is life-threatening and must be taken seriously. 💛