Steve Rider Encourages Men to Get Tested After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Key Highlights :
Steve Rider, ITV and former BBC sports presenter, has urged other men to “recognise their vulnerability” and get tested for prostate cancer after he was diagnosed with the disease last month. The 73-year-old broadcaster, who previously hosted BBC’s Grandstand and Sportsnight, will undergo surgery this weekend after receiving his diagnosis.
Rider revealed he learned of his diagnosis the day after he took part in Jeff Stelling’s latest charity Football March in honour of his former colleague Bill Turnbull, who died from prostate cancer in 2022. Speaking to the PA news agency, Rider revealed he went and had himself tested after a friend was diagnosed with cancer during a routine check. He admitted that after he was first tested he planned to do “absolutely nothing” as his readings were “not that high”, but his wife urged him to get further examinations.
On September 17, he went from Wembley Stadium in London to the home of Wycombe Wanderers FC in High Wycombe alongside more than 350 others as part of Stelling’s 26.2 mile charity walk for . The following day he received his biopsy result which revealed he had prostate . Rider finished filming the British Touring Car Championship for ITV on Sunday and will go in for surgery later this week.
Rider credits the open conversations he has with his friends and the encouragement from his wife to get tested for aiding with his diagnosis. He said: “We do tend to treat these things a little bit like getting your eyes tested or ears done, you can put it off and maybe think ‘Well, I’ll wait till the symptoms come’. Symptoms don’t come and when they do is it is probably too late.”
Rider also praised his former colleague Bill Turnbull for creating greater awareness of prostate cancer by speaking out about the disease. The late BBC Breakfast host revealed his diagnosis in March 2018 and detailed his treatment in a Channel 4 documentary called Staying Alive. Rider said: “The great thing about Bill was that he wanted to turn his misfortune into an information campaign which would save hundreds of others.” He also commended Stelling for carrying on Turnbull’s legacy with the charity walks and said it was a “privilege to be able to join them”.
Prostate Cancer UK has said the disease affects one in eight men in the UK and that more than 12,000 men die every year from the condition. They added certain men are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer including those over 50 and those with a family history of prostate cancer. To find out more about your prostate cancer risk, or that of your partner, father or friend, you can visit Prostate Cancer UK’s website and try the 30-second online risk checker.
Steve Rider’s story is a reminder to all men to take their health seriously and to get tested for prostate cancer. His message is clear: “Recognise your vulnerability, especially with age and family history and so on. And if you do feel that you fall into those categories, then get yourself checked.” Thank you Steve for sharing your story and urging men to check their risk. It takes just 30 seconds and could make all the difference. Check your risk here ➡️
Title: Steve Rider Urges Men to Recognise Vulnerability and Get Tested for Prostate Cancer After Diagnosis
