Bike for life

WE are not renowned for our proactive approach towards our health and well-being, we Brits. Any ailment that lingers, that we can't pin down or that looks as though it may be serious, and the likelihood is we will ignore it for as long as possible. Mention indigestion and we sympathise. Mention cancer and we freeze.

Women have become more cancer aware through educational campaigns for breast and cervical cancers. But men are still lagging behind in the cancer-awareness stakes.

"It's vital that men are made aware of the early warning signs for cancer and realise the chances of being cured are far better if the disease is treated as soon as it becomes apparent," says Sir Paul Nurse of Cancer Research UK. "We men are renowned for our 'head-in-the-sand' mentality when it comes to our health - and if we are going to reduce deaths from cancer we need to change that."

To raise awareness and money for men's cancers, Cancer Research UK has organised the Cycle For Life, to take place between June and September this year in 18 towns and cities across the country. The race is about 15 miles long and takes approximately two hours to complete. It is open to everyone and it is hoped that around 10,000 men, women and children will take part.

Although the Cycle for Life is now in its second year, it will this year be taking place for the first time in York, on Knavesmire on Sunday, July 6.

As Rod Smith - a North Yorkshire Moors Railway worker from Grosmont - knows, every penny raised by the race goes to a very good cause indeed.

"This year I'm entering the Cycle For Life events for the second time," says Rod. "When I first heard of them early last year I decided to ride because there had been several deaths in my family from male cancers. My maternal grandfather, an uncle and two cousins have all died through testicular cancer."

Between sending for his entry forms for the Cycle For Life and actually entering the event, Rod received the devastating news that he was suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a slow-growing type of lymphatic cancer. "It is a cancer easy to be unaware of until it begins to cause other health problems," says Rod. The cancer had developed in a lymph gland on his small intestine.

Initial blood tests did not uncover any problems and the disease was only diagnosed when it reached a size which could be felt by an experienced doctor.

"It was only found in time to treat it because I started training for the 2002 cycling season and found it very hard going," says Rod. "I also felt constantly tired - so I decided I ought to see my doctor."

Rod was in good general health, a lifelong cyclist with an active and healthy diet. "So you can see that it can affect anyone," he says. "I was completely shattered because I have a young son, Christopher, who at that time in May 2002 was just three years old. You always think it won't happen to you!"

After diagnosis Rod became aware of the treatment options and took a swift, proactive approach towards the disease, undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy to combat it.

"The cancer had been growing for probably well over ten years without my being aware of it, the gradual effects on my health having been put down to getting older, until I had perhaps only six to 12 months of life left if it continued untreated.

"I was lucky in that it was only just beginning to show up in the subsequent bone marrow tests and it doesn't seem to have invaded any major organs, though only time will tell if this is really the case. At present, although I am still in the early stages of recovery, I am feeling quite good and am starting to try to put my life back on course."

Rod's advice to those who bury their head in the sand in the face of a cancer scare is clear.

"It is very important not to sweep cancer under the carpet and to be more aware of both the disease and the possibilities of treatment, especially if it is found in good time. Most people seem to find it hard to talk about, some are a bit shocked that I am so open about it, but to me, now I've got over the initial shock of being told what I had, I have had to learn to live with it. I've got cancer and I live with it and the consequences of it. I hope I will recover fully but there's no guarantee."

But Rod thinks that if cancer and the treatment are faced head on then we can come to terms with it.

"To anyone finding themselves with a cancer like mine I would say that you can't change what you've got, but you can face it and try to go on with life to the best of your ability - don't try to hide away from it!

"I have just gone back to full time work since Easter and it is proving to be harder than I had expected to do five full days a week, but I hope it will get easier as time goes by.

"I've just turned 56 and I hope I've got a bit of time left. I've been involved with the railway since the late 1960s, and I'd like to go on being involved with it for a lot longer!"

- The Cycle for Life is now in its second year. On Sunday, July 6, the first race ever to be held in York takes place at the racecourse.

You can enter Cycle for Life by visiting www.cycleforlife.co.uk, or by calling 0870 161 1010 for an entry form.

Entry in advance costs £7.50 for adults and £4.50 for children under 18, entries on the day cost £10 for adults and £5 for children - participants are also asked to collect sponsorship money.

Cycle For Life training sessions will be taking place in York at Fitness First, Clifton Moor, the Barbican Centre, Barbican Road, the Next Generation Club, off Hull Road and the Body Club in North Street.

For information about Cancer Research UK visit science.cancerresearchuk.org. Cancer Research UK has developed a free online cancer and cancer care advice and information service for patients and their families.

To access visit: www.cancerhelp.org.uk.

Updated: 09:13 Monday, May 26, 2003