Rhys Russell was just 18 years old when his life was cut short by a form of cancer so quiet, so unassuming, that no one saw it coming—not even him. What started as a nearly invisible red patch on his scalp turned into a full-blown medical crisis in just a matter of months. His tragic story is a powerful reminder that melanoma, often thought of as a disease for older people or sun worshippers, can strike anyone—at any age, in any condition, with little to no warning. For Rhys, it all began with something small. One evening, under the harsh light of a bathroom, someone in his family noticed a faint red spot beneath his thick curls. It didn’t itch. It didn’t hurt. There was no mole, no scab, nothing to suggest that it was dangerous. It was easy to ignore, and at first, that’s exactly what they did. But on second thought, and out of an abundance of caution, they brought Rhys to the…
