Ex-BBC Sport presenter Steve Rider reveals he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer – and says it’s thanks to fellow broadcaster Nick Owen that he went for a check
- Steve Rider, 73, told BBC Breakfast that Nick Owen’s cancer resonated with him
Ex-BBC Sport presenter Steve Rider revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer – thanking fellow broadcaster Nick Owen for prompting him to go for a check.
Mr Rider, 73, told BBC Breakfast that Mr Owen’s appearance on the show discussing his own battle with the disease was an eye-opener for him.
Mr Owen, 75, announced in August that he has been suffering from ‘extensive’ and ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer – adding he had no symptoms and it ‘came out of the blue’.
Mr Rider said this morning: ‘I know you had Nick Owen a few weeks ago here and if he’s watching send all my best and thanks to him – because it’s people familiar, maybe from the television screen, or a friend down the pub, that really triggers the thought that ”maybe I should get myself checked”.
‘That’s what happened with me – Nick’s experience resonated with me. I had a good friend in the village who had a random examination – nothing scheduled – and it came up with a big prostate problem.
Ex-BBC Sport presenter Steve Rider (pictured) revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer – thanking fellow broadcaster Nick Owen for prompting him to go for a check
Nick Owen, 75, announced in August that he has been suffering from ‘extensive’ and ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer – adding he had no symptoms and it ‘came out of the blue’
Gabby Logan, Steve Rider and Jim Rosenthal preparing for the 2006 World Cup
READ MORE: The rock by Nick Owen’s side as he battles prostate cancer: How breakfast TV star’s reflexologist wife Vicki has played crucial role in his recovery from disease
‘We all went off and got checked, my reading was a little bit high but we can live with that – no problems and no symptoms.’
He added: ‘My wife thankfully is far more sensible and far more tuned into these things. So we went off and we went through to the examination procedure, and a couple of X-rays and so on, and then a biopsy as well.
‘By that time I was pretty well tuned into the whole system – so I pitched up on Geoff Stelling’s charity walk in memoir of our good friend Bill Turnbill who wasn’t quite so lucky and we did a walk to Wickham and during the course of that met. Lots of people who were going through the same sort of experience.’
Mr Rider said he did not have any symptoms and was not expecting to be diagnosed.
‘I was getting the result of my biopsy the day after this, and I was assuming right I’ll be looked after for the next six months, regular checks and all that sort of thing, and came in and said no we need you operated on as soon as possible. You know clear your diary for the next three weeks.
‘It’s all contained within the prostate, so it gives us the opportunity to have significant surgery and cure the whole thing that way.
‘If it becomes more advanced then the future is a little bit more bleak for people but we have managed to catch it in time thjat dsurgery is really going to knock this on the head.’
Mr Owen announced he is suffering from ‘extensive’ and ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer in August – saying a specialist told him he had the disease ‘full-on’. Pictured: Mr Owen with his wife Vicki Beevers
It comes after Mr Owen announced he is suffering from ‘extensive’ and ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer in August – saying a specialist told him he had the disease ‘full-on’.
He said hearing the prognosis had been ‘probably the worst day of my life’.
Mr Owen says his wife played a crucial role in his cancer recovery and remains his biggest supporter through this ‘very, very difficult time’.
Mr Owen revealed that his wife’s reflexology played a significant part in his recovery as she supported him through his cancer battle which involved his prostate being removed.
‘She had to do a lot of things medically when I came home, to look after me, including having to give me an injection once a day for about a month – and she’s got no experience of that,’ he said.
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