A 32-year-old woman who dismissed an itchy mole on her back as a rucksack rash was devastated to learn it was stage 3 melanoma, leading to an unexpected fertility battle.
From Travel to Diagnosis
Kate Howson and her partner Rhys had taken a sabbatical from their jobs in Cardiff to attend weddings in New Zealand and Thailand in early 2024, planning to travel in between. While backpacking, Kate noticed an itch in the middle of her back where a mole was located. She initially blamed her rucksack, but when Rhys checked, the surrounding skin was red. They sent a photo to Kate's sister-in-law, a doctor, who advised getting it checked upon their return.
By March, the mole had darkened, changed shape, and looked irregular. Kate saw her GP, who referred her to dermatology at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. Doctors removed the mole the same day, confirming it was melanoma.
Cancer Spreads to Lymph Nodes
Kate underwent a sentinel lymph node biopsy, which revealed the cancer had spread to her groin. Surgery to remove those lymph nodes showed the melanoma had progressed from stage 2 to stage 3. “It had metastasised,” she said. Results came just before Christmas 2025.
Referred to Velindre Cancer Centre, Kate’s oncologist initially offered immunotherapy, but because she had the BRAF mutation, cancer-targeting drugs were deemed best. However, these tablets carried potential side effects, including unknown impacts on fertility.
Fertility Blow
Kate and Rhys had discussed starting a family. Before starting treatment, they were offered one round of IVF. “It was at this point we found out that my egg reserves were abnormally low – they only managed to harvest three eggs,” Kate said. They paid for a second IVF round for embryo freezing, but only a few eggs were harvested and none fertilised.
“Suddenly finding out I had low fertility at this point felt like another huge blow,” she said. The couple parked family plans for a year as Kate began treatment in April.
Counselling and Coping
Kate accessed counselling through Tenovus Cancer Care. “Talking to Sam … has helped me get these thoughts out of my head,” she said. She works as a research partnership manager at Social Care Wales and wanted to share her story to help others.
Rhian Jones, senior support line nurse at Tenovus Cancer Care, urged vigilance: “If you notice any changes in your skin, go to your GP as soon as possible.” She highlighted the ABCDE guide for mole checks.
Kate continues to travel with Rhys in their campervan. “Being outdoors and exploring new places is something that I love doing but I just have to be a little bit more careful when doing so now,” she said.
