Alun Griffiths | Swansea City AFC Foundation probably saved my life
When Alun Griffiths, 71, signed up to Swansea City AFC Foundation and Prostate Cymru’s cancer testing event in April 2024, he had no idea just how important a decision that would prove to be.
The event, which saw the Foundation team up with Prostate Cymru and Nationwide Building Society, provided free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing to 250 Swans fans aged 40 and over.
Griffiths had no symptoms of prostate cancer, and openly admits that he would not have sought a test had it not been for the event being held in a place of meaning to him as a lifelong Swans fan.
“I’ve been a Swans supporter for a number of years,” said Griffiths.
“But until quite recently I didn’t realise what the Foundation was really about, remarkably it ended up that they probably saved my life.
“I attended the prostate cancer testing event at the Swansea.com Stadium in April 2024. I don’t know what made me decide to put my name down for that event, I had no symptoms and I wouldn’t have sought testing or treatment otherwise, I didn’t believe that I had a problem.
“Three days after the testing event, I received my results through the post in the form of a red letter. I thought 'this doesn’t seem very good'.
“On reading the letter, I realised that I had quite a raised level of PSA. From there on, things moved rather quickly and I ended up being diagnosed with aggressive, advanced prostate cancer.”
After initial tests at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, doctors decided upon radiotherapy treatment as the most suitable course of action for Griffiths, who would then have to visit the radiotherapy unit at Singleton Hospital every day for a month across October and November 2024.
Griffiths’ treatment continues, and he is currently progressing through a two-year course of hormone therapy, which comprises a series of injections along with daily tablets.
“At the moment everything seems fine,” added Griffiths.
“I’ve had several, not all clears, but thumbs up from the doctor which means that now they can no longer detect PSA in my body, which is fantastic news, but they will continue with my treatment so that it kills off the cancer, hopefully forever.
“Each month that goes by I feel I’m getting better. In fact, I dread to think where I’d be now if the Swans Foundation hadn’t put that event on. I wouldn’t have gone out to seek this test, it was just put on a plate for me and I took it.”
Griffiths’ fight is not over, but he has recently felt strong enough to begin a new journey to help continue building his overall health and wellbeing by completing the Foundation’s FIT Jacks programme.
“Abdul (Mithwani) and Robin (O’Brien), a couple of the health and wellbeing officers at the Foundation, persuaded me from the get go to join FIT Jacks, and I’m so glad that I took up the cudgels and my wife Yvonne came along with me," continued Griffiths.
“We’ve enjoyed, although maybe not every minute as it’s pretty tough on an older fellow like me who has done nothing but surf the couch since retirement 10 years ago, but it’s not just about the fitness.
“You learn about the foods, food groups, what you should avoid or cut down on. This programme has made me sit up and realise what I’ve been missing. Certainly I’ve benefited from it in many ways, it was fantastic.”
Griffiths' journey with the Foundation has continued as he now attends Active Jacks sessions, which are a maintenance programme for FIT Jacks graduates, while his hormone therapy treatment will be ongoing for the next 16 months.