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Hartson joins cancer unit launch Hartson would 'turn back clock'
(about 3 hours later)
Former football star John Hartson has helped launch a cancer charity's mobile support unit in Carmarthenshire at Llanelli's Parc y Scarlets. Former football star John Hartson is hoping to prevent others making the same mistake as him by not checking out early warning signs of cancer.
The retired footballer, who is recovering from testicular cancer, joined charity Tenovus for the launch. The retired striker, who is recovering from testicular cancer, said he wished he could turn the clock back four years and act as soon as he found a lump.
The mobile unit began work nine months ago and has already helped 3,000 in the south east valleys. Hartson, 34, was admitted to hospital for surgery and chemotherapy in August.
It aims to serve cancer patients in the hardest to reach areas who need to access care, treatment and support. The former Arsenal, Celtic and Wales player plans to raise awareness of the illness and the need to act early.
Tenovus' chief executive Claudia McVie said over 1,000 people in Carmarthenshire alone are diagnosed with cancer each year, and the county has the second highest rate of cancer in Wales per head of population. You're never too busy are you - there's no excuses, I should have gone and had it checked out John Hartson
"Patients have told us that they would like to be treated closer to their home in these circumstances," she added. Hartson's cancer spread to his brain and lungs, and at one stage he was given a "50-50 chance" of surviving.
John Hartson has admitted he ignored a lump he discovered He told BBC Wales: "I wish I could turn the clock back four years. From the first minute I felt a lump in my testicle I would be in the doctors.
"Tenovus fully supports patients views and has strategically tried to meet this need when it arises through the provision of care, treatment and support services in the heart of patients communities." "You're never too busy are you - there's no excuses, I should have gone and had it checked out.
She said the charity's approach was holistic, offering a wide range of services from chemotherapy through to advice, support, counselling and health checks. "I wouldn't have gone through all the rigmarole I've gone through possibly, the operations and everything else.
Ms McVie said the charity also works to reduce incidence of cancer by working with communities, and by implementing preventative methods to improve quality of life for patients and alleviate the strains they face. "I think I'd have had it nipped in the bud, avoided lots of chemo and operations."
The mobile unit which costs £300,000 a year to run has initially operated in the valleys of south east Wales. In Carmarthenshire, it will initially be based at Parc Y Scarlets fortnightly and will them move to Trostre Park from January. He wants to use his public profile to highlight the need for self-checking.
Tenovus' mobile support unit in being brought to Carmarthenshire in partnership with Hywel Dda Trust and CISS (Cancer Information and Support Services). He explained: "I played football, I was in the limelight for a while. I think people will listen if I say, go and get it checked out.
Planning to marry "I'm going to try and raise awareness to young men around the country, not just older men, younger men in their teens. I think it applies to people in their 20s, early 30s.
Sister Hilary Jones, chemotherapy lead for Hywel Dda NHS Trust said they were "delighted" to be able to additional support to patients and their families diagnosed with cancer. Hartson scored 89 goals for Celtic during his five seasons at the club
"We are also hoping to extend the service in the future to Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire," said Sister Jones. "If somebody had really drummed it into me... had come to Celtic or West Brom or wherever I was playing and given a talk about raising awareness about checking your testicles, I would have gone that afternoon.
Former Wales, Celtic and Arsenal striker John Hartson has admitted that he "ignored" a lump which he had discovered. "I wouldn't have left it four years."
Swansea-based Hartson, 34, is now recovering after surgery for the cancer which had spread to his brain and lungs and he has warned men who find a lump in their testicles to act. He added: "I speak to guys on the street. People come up to me and say 'I went and got myself checked out last week on the back of watching your programme'.
Next year he is planning to marry his partner Sarah McManus, who is expecting their second child. Hartson also has two other children. "That's nice to hear. If you can save people's lives through it, then it's obviously worthwhile."
Hartson hopes to get back into football once his treatment is complete - he said he was "not home and dry yet" - and has completed all the necessary coaching badges to enable him to resume his career once he is well enough.
He said the hardest thing during his treatment were the levels of tiredness he experienced, which as a very fit man he found it difficult to deal with.
"I was bed-ridden for five-and-a-half weeks... so I completely lost all my strength," he said.
"It does make you appreciate life a little bit more, time with the kids and everything else.
"But there's still a long way to go and I'm hoping I'm going to be one of the lucky ones. I'm going to keep on fighting."
On a personal front, he and his partner Sarah McManus are expecting their second child, and the couple are making plans to marry.
He already has two other children from a previous relationship.
Cancer patients
Hartson was speaking at the launch of a mobile unit in Carmarthenshire run by the cancer charity Tenovus.
The unit, which costs £300,000 a year to run, aims to serve cancer patients in the hardest to reach areas who need to access care, treatment and support.
It will initially be based at Parc Y Scarlets fortnightly and will them move to Trostre Park from January.
Tenovus' mobile support unit is being brought to Carmarthenshire in partnership with Hywel Dda Trust and CISS (Cancer Information and Support Services).