He has pushed his body to the limits three times over the unforgiving 226km Ironman course and hardcore fitness has always been a part of his daily health regime.

A community-minded man and respected in local triathlon circles as a mentor and coach for future athletes, Mike Reid faced his toughest challenge of all when diagnosed in July 2011 with prostate cancer.

The insidious nature of the disease meant that Mike experienced very few symptoms and no pain.

The only red flag was an increased need to urinate at night and after encouragement from his wife Sue, booked an appointment with his doctor to dispel anxiety that it was anything serious.

The news that Mike did in fact have prostate cancer was shattering.

“When we were called back into the office by the doctor we knew that there must have been something.

“When you are told that you have cancer it is pretty daunting,” Mike said.

Drawing on his own mental strength and positive attitude to life, Mike and Sue faced the cancer challenge together with optimism.

“Once we had made up our mind that I was going to have radiation and not surgery, and we took all of the negative aspects out of it and focused on it positively, it made it so much easier,” Mike added.

Mike, who will be a speaker at this Saturday’s Annual Health Forum at the Glasshouse, urges all men over the age of 40 to put their complacency, fears or anxiety aside and make their own health a priority.

The PSA screening test for prostate cancer is simple and effective in detecting the disease, or flagging risk factors.

Mike adds that good health and an active lifestyle also play a major role in maintaining men’s health.

“The best advice I could give is get over it and just get tested. It’s simple,” Mike said.

Early detection, as seen in Mike’s case, means treatment has a greater chance of being effective.

“I’ve finished the treatment and so far so good which is great.”