I’m taking part in Football to Amsterdam, a two day, 145-mile bike ride to the Dutch capital. We’ll be putting football rivalries aside to tackle prostate cancer once and for all. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It’s a disease which kills one man every 45 minutes – that’s two men during a football match. But Prostate Cancer UK know that we can turn it around. Their aim is to make this a disease the next generation need not fear.

Please read the article below which PCUK have produced based on my story....

The story in one sentence: Diagnosed with prostate cancer at 49, Halesowen-based Steve has signed up to cycle 145 miles in Prostate Cancer UK’s Football to Amsterdam bike ride to say ‘thank you’ to the charity

Possible themes/pegs for the story: Hereditary risk, Football to Amsterdam, diagnosed under 50

The story: Steve, 50, admits he knew about prostate cancer before his diagnosis, but it was a Prostate Cancer UK awareness talk at his workplace that prompted him to visit his GP.

“We had a presentation about five years ago and Prostate Cancer UK went over the symptoms,” he says. “When I realised I was getting up a fair bit more in the night, it initially triggered me to be a little concerned.

Throughout the course of that year I realised something was just not right.”

Steve, whose father is of Caribbean origin which puts him, and his son, at a greater risk of prostate cancer, then visited his GP in January of 2019. After a PSA test, an MRI and a biopsy, he was diagnosed with the disease three months later.

“I was 49 at the time, so my diagnosis was something of an unwanted early 50^th birthday present,” Steve says. “But, on the positive side, it did spur me on to get some of my 50^th birthday bucket list cracked nice and early!”

Due to his age and the fact that Steve’s prostate cancer remained contained in the prostate, he was recommended a radical prostatectomy, which he had a Newcross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

“I’d sort of self-diagnosed, then each step during diagnosis – PSA test, MRI – confirmed that I wasn’t a raging hypochondriac,” Steve says. “In some ways, the confirmation was a relief, as knowing meant we could do something about it.

I looked at a few other options and spent a lot of time on the Prostate Cancer UK forums, which are a great source of information. In the end, I determined that the best option for clearing me of the cancer was the operation and pretty much everyone agreed with that decision.

There was a fair bit of fear, as you’re concerned about how aggressive it is, whether it’s spread or what the impact of the treatment is going to be, but at least you can have a go.”

Steve was also concerned on the impact his diagnosis would have on his family.

“Cancer has affected us all in the past and I knew they would be worried,” he says. “I’m aware that my son will be more at risk due to his heritage and the fact I’ve had it. My partner, Louise, was brilliant, focusing on the positives and how we would work together to get through it. I also got lots of backup and support from friends and family.

My recovery has been good, based on listening to and following the advice of the amazing NHS staff, who looked after me, and a great support network of friends and family.”

Steve, who is a keen cyclist, saw taking part in Prostate Cancer UK’s Football to Amsterdam bike ride as another opportunity to give back to the charity having also taken part in March the Month in September 2019.

“With all the help Prostate Cancer UK have given me, it seemed like a good opportunity to do something in return,” he says. “Raising funds is important, but awareness is very important too.

I’ll hopefully be able to beat my fundraising target but also to field any questions from friends who have concerns. This has happened already as a friend’s father is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

He approached me and we’ve talked on a couple of occasions and I think having someone who has been through it would be great for a lot of men. We find it hard to talk about this sort of thing, but I’d like to think friends would be able to approach me if they wanted.

A good friend phoned me the other day to discuss his symptoms and has since been to his doctor. Luckily, it wasn’t cancer for him, but at least he knows he can talk to someone about it and he's getting it sorted.”

And Football to Amsterdam poses as a new challenge for Aston Villa fan Steve, who is accustomed to mountain bikes, not road bikes.

“My mountain bike is so much better at soaking up the bumps on our awful roads,” he says. “But as I’ve said before, raising awareness is a great thing and hopefully we will raise a lot of money for Prostate Cancer UK.

Personally, the 145 miles will be the longest single ride I’ve done and I'm looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully I’ll make it and along the way I’ll make some new friends. I've joined a team - Mongrels2Amsterdam - and have already met one of the guys they seem a good bunch so looking forward to getting to know them and people from other teams on the ride and after.”