During Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (March 22-27) three people with personal experiences of the cancer spoke candidly to Radio Cymru about the disease and how it affected them. The three were broadcaster and musician Rhys Jones from Prestatyn, Dafydd Owen from Llanbedrog, Pwllheli, and Rhys Lewis from the Swansea area.

"Two days before Christmas I saw a specialist," said Dafydd Owen, "and his first words almost were 'you're going to die'. My sister was with me and I looked at her and said 'but the information leaflet I've read says that there are many ways of treating prostate cancer' and [the doctor] said 'well, yes there are lots of different things that can be done, but not in your case. Whatever happens I can guarantee you that this will get you in the end. This will kill you'."

From the first moment Dafydd decided to fight, he had two battles on his hands - one against the cancer and the other against the attitude of the medical world, that the cancer was too far gone and was untreatable.

The rules were finally bent, as 52 is a young age to develop the disease and because he was so fit and otherwise healthy. Facing 35 sessions of radiotherapy, Dafydd kept an audio diary of his experiences.

There is one big message that comes across from all three contributors, the importance of testing for prostate cancer (PSA test), which is a simple blood test. This is how, in face of very few symptoms, prostate cancer is detected.

Any man, anywhere, has the right to ask for this PSA test, which is highly advised by the three for any man over 50, or even on their 50th birthday, according to Rhys Lewis.

"The best birthday present he can give himself is to make an appointment and ask the doctor to do a test to see what PSA levels he has."

Dafydd Owen died peacefully in his sleep of prostate cancer on January 31, 2006.

Read about how Dafydd discovered Aled Jones, and his experiences and photographs in his cycling challenge for Prostate Awareness Week 2004.