TV presenter gets 'best news possible' on cancer

Mari, pictured at her final session of radiotherapy at Singleton Hospital in Swansea

A TV presenter who thought she may only have five years to live has said she has received "the best news possible" after undergoing cancer treatment.

In April 2023, Mari Grug’s life changed overnight after she discovered a lump in her left breast.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer, which spread to her lymph nodes and liver.

A year on from the diagnosis, the 39-year-old from Mynachlog-ddu, Pembrokeshire, said her past two liver scans were clear of cancer.

Mari, who has worked throughout her treatment, is a familiar face on S4C and a regular voice on BBC Radio Cymru

"It's two clear scans in a row on the liver, which is good news," she said.

"It's great and positive and a step in the right direction – but you never know with cancer.

"For anyone who knows and understands cancer, there is bound to be a micro disease somewhere or some cells that haven't shown themselves.

"I've had my breast and lymph nodes out on the left side and I've had a clear mammogram on the other breast – so these are the best possible results in terms of what's with me."

After a year of chemotherapy, breast removal surgery and then radiotherapy, Mari now receives a Phesgo injection every three weeks at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen to manage the type of cancer she has.

Since hearing the news of the two clear scans, Mari said she was looking forward to a three-month break from cancer therapy.

"It's a nice time to have no treatment and have time to process things," she said.

"My body has been through so much in a year," she said.

"They want to scan my liver every three months for two years.

"If nothing has grown within the two years they say I will have had a total response to the treatment.

"Because the science and medicine is still so new they've said they're not sure what to do next.

"Hearing that when you go to an appointment... you don't want to hear that from an expert. But again, I take this as great news."

The most recent result is considerably more promising than Mari's initial diagnosis.

"I googled what metastatic breast cancer meant and it wasn't good.

"He [the doctor] said five years to live, but now people are proving they can live with it." she said.

Mari was in the studio presenting Prynhawn Da on S4C when she received the news of the second clear scan.

"I knew the MRI results were on the way and after finishing Prynhawn Da I checked my phone - there was a text from the nurse saying: 'Mari good news, no evidence of disease'.

"I rang [my husband] Gareth straight away, and it was nice to be with good people at work who have been through it with me.

"Someone told me with cancer you have to celebrate every outcome and every little step, it's important to take note of it, because nobody's sure what's ahead of us and where the journey is taking us.

"The journey I go on affects my husband and children, family and extended family – that’s what it is with cancer."

The response that Mari received on social media inspired her to start a podcast discussing her experience.

She hopes the podcast, which is available on BBC Sounds, will encourage people to share their experiences and to "not be afraid" of cancer.