In August last year, Mjällby's coach Anders Torstensson was sick-listed after being diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukemia. Just a week after the cancer diagnosis, he was back in service and has since led the successful team, which finished fifth in the Allsvenskan last year.
I have come to terms with the diagnosis, trying to leave it at the hospital and realizing that there are a hundred other diagnoses that would have been worse, he says.
The 59-year-old Torstensson, who has had the main responsibility in the Hällevik team in three rounds (2013, 2021, and since 2023), undergoes checks and takes tests every month.
"A way out of the swamp"
I am free from some serious symptoms. This means that I can live as usual, don't need any treatment. So far, it's good. Of course, the values can go awry, it can change. But then there is treatment that works very well for otherwise healthy people.
How have you changed as a person during this time and do you see football in a different way?
Both yes and no. It's extremely difficult to know how you react when you get such a message. I'm positively surprised by myself. The first day wasn't the most fun, it was tough messages to give to my relatives. But I felt already on day 2 that there was a way out of this swamp, says Torstensson and continues:
I shouldn't say that I have a completely different life philosophy. But it's about all of us, really, that regardless of diagnosis or not, you don't know what tomorrow has. It's about making the most of living while you can.
"Fantastic player group"
In connection with the Allsvenskan kickoff meeting in Stockholm last week, Mjällby was tipped as seventh according to the collective media corps.
Prior to Sunday's premiere away against Elfsborg, Anders Torstensson praises the club's organization.
I have the privilege of leading very, very competent people. We put in an incredible amount of hard work and time every week with a high ambition. Not least, we have a fantastic player group that works extremely hard and is extremely ambitious, he says.
Chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in adults. The disease is a form of lymphoma, lymph node cancer, and cannot affect children.
CLL usually comes sneakily and initially gives no symptoms. It can, for example, be detected in connection with a health check or blood sampling for some other reason.
The disease is usually lifelong and you receive treatment if you experience symptoms. You undergo regular checks even when you are symptom-free.
Source: 1177.se and the Cancer Foundation's website.
2024: Fifth.
2023: Tenth.
2022: Ninth.
2021: Ninth.
2020: Fifth (as a newcomer).
