Chris Capstick, 41, from Bromborough, was given months to live after a mark on his back, initially thought to be an insect bite, turned out to be stage four melanoma. The diagnosis came after he noticed the mark while on his wedding holiday in Greece in 2022.
Repeated GP visits
Over six months, Chris visited his GP surgery several times as the mark changed colour. Doctors initially said it was a cyst, a benign lump. But after a colleague suggested having it removed, Chris asked his GP to remove it in February 2023. The tissue was sent for testing, revealing melanoma.
Diagnosis and treatment
Chris was told he had a 15% chance of survival. He underwent surgery to remove lymph nodes and 13 months of immunotherapy, becoming cancer-free in early 2025. However, six months later, six tumours were found on his brain and six elsewhere, making the cancer terminal.
Chris said: "I was given 10 to 12 months to live. It was a massive shock for me and the family." He has tried red light therapy and oxygen therapy, and his liver enzymes have been high, pausing treatment for two months.
Daughter's book
His daughter Isabella, six, wrote a children's book, Daddy's Little Monsters, to help other children understand a parent's illness. Over £630 has been raised to distribute the book to cancer centres and hospices. Chris said: "It's my legacy in a way."
