Reality TV star Harry Jowsey has urged people to “please wear sunscreen” after he received a skin cancer diagnosis.
The 26-year-old, who has appeared on TVNZ’s Heartbreak Island and Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle, said the cancer had been on his shoulder for a year or two.
“I just want to save and protect one of you guys out there,” he told followers on TikTok.
In a post to his five million followers, US-based Jowsey said: “There isn’t really an easy way to say this, but last week I went to a dermatologist to get my skin checked and they found some skin cancer on me.
“I’m going to be all good, everything’s going to be ok.”
He urged people to wear sunscreen and to go and get your skin checked.
“Please wear sunscreen. Please go get your skin checked. If you’re freckly little frog like me, go get a mole map and get your body checked because you never know.”
Jowsey was born in Queensland before moving to New Zealand.
One half of the winning couple on TVNZ’s Heartbreak Island in 2018, he became an international name when he appeared on Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle to 2020.
Skin cancers are the most commonly diagnosed cancers in New Zealand.
The Cancer Society said that signs of skin cancer include:
- a crusty sore that is not healing
- small lumps that are red, pale, or pearly in colour
- new or existing spots or moles changing in colour, thickness or shape
- a dry, scaly area that is shiny and pale or bright pink in colour
