Paul Bodin: Former Wales and Swindon defender thankful after successful cancer operation

Paul Bodin was capped 23 times by Wales and most recently worked as a coach for the country's under-21s

Former Wales and Swindon defender Paul Bodin said an operation he underwent following a diagnosis of prostate cancer has been a success.

The 59-year-old said in October he had been diagnosed following a routine test last spring and a subsequent biopsy.

Bodin said he saw his surgeon two weeks ago, who told him his blood levels were "back to normal" after the operation.

"When you go through the whole procedure, they're quite dark days," Bodin told BBC Radio Wiltshire.

"But I've had all the support from my family and all around, from Swindon Town supporters, from friends around the world all wishing me well.

"Thankfully a week last Thursday I met the surgeon - I had the blood test the previous week - and he told me the good news with the blood test and the operation was successful so it's a deep breath and we move forward," he added.

Bodin had two spells at Swindon between 1988-91 and 1992-96, and won 23 caps for Wales.

He most recently worked as a coach for Wales Under-21s before leaving the job in July 2022.

Bodin said he will have further blood tests over the next three months and his health will continue to be monitored.

"I'd like to thank everybody again for all your support, it's really appreciated," he said.

"Any guys of my age or slightly younger, a bit older, if there's any symptoms or if there's not any symptoms get to the doctors and get your PSA [prostate-specific antigen] test and thankfully I caught mine early enough."