TV presenter with stage 4 breast cancer faces 'battle' for care

Mari Grug's family have visited her during hospital stays

A TV presenter with stage 4 breast cancer has said she's had to "battle" for care.

Mum-of-three Mari Grug, 41, was diagnosed with the disease in 2023, which has now spread to her liver and lymph nodes.

In a documentary for Welsh language channel S4C, Mari said she has had to fight for operations and scans after initially being offered palliative care.

Mari said she wants to live "as long as possible" for her children. Hywel Dda health board said it does its best to care and support its patients.

Mari, who appears on Heno and Prynhawn Da, has had a double mastectomy, and continues to receive chemotherapy every three weeks.

"I thought, you hear the word cancer and they're on it, you will be treated," she said.

"Yes, I have been treated, but I have had to fight for operations and I'm still fighting now for some scans.

"I have had to battle and challenge, been on the phone constantly. Not everyone has the energy to ring and to hassle."

She added: "That's the main shock I've had following my diagnosis."

S4C presenter Mari Grug has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer

Mari has documented her journey for a programme called Mari Grug: Un dydd ar y tro (Mari Grug: One day at a time) to raise awareness.

"Thinking about not being here for them breaks my heart. That's what makes it difficult," said Mari, from Mynachlog-ddu in Pembrokeshire.

"When I was given the diagnosis that the cancer had spread, I was told, 'there's not much we can do except for palliative care'. That was a blow.

"But in reality, this type of care has developed so much.

"Perhaps the terminology needs to change, because when someone hears that word at the start, it's very upsetting."

Mari (left) and her sister, Lisa (right), have both been diagnosed with breast cancer

Mari said her younger sister, Lisa, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

"Unfortunately, Lisa was diagnosed last year. My younger sister, both of us have a faulty RAD51 gene," she said.

"It's been a really difficult time for the family. But, we've been able to help each other."

She said it was her "duty" to raise awareness about the disease.

"One in two of us will get cancer. One in seven will get breast cancer," she said.

Mari continues to have chemotherapy treatment every three weeks

She added: "The documentary is Mari Grug - the mother, the wife, the daughter, the sister - and obviously the presenter which is a very big part of my life.

"All the emotions are there, throughout the documentary, and hopefully people will appreciate that."

Mari said she will continue to have treatment until it stops working.

Hywel Dda health board's Sharon Daniel said: "We are always open to receiving feedback and to discussing a patient's treatment with them, to offer reassurance and consider alternatives.

"We see every one of our patients as an individual and we do our best to offer them the care they need to support them on the road to recovery."