Veteran Cancer Nurse Battles Stage 4 Prostate Cancer with Resilience

In September 2025, Matt Riddleston, a 59-year-old senior cancer nurse with 32 years of experience, is battling stage 4 prostate cancer. Riddleston, who lives in Chelmsford, Essex, with his wife Kate, was diagnosed with the disease in 2022 after experiencing fatigue, urinary issues, and back pain, which he initially attributed to work-related stress and cycling injuries.

Riddleston, a father of three, was shocked by the diagnosis, as he had extensive knowledge of cancer and its symptoms. "Nurses, healthcare professionals, we think we're immune to everything that we treat our patients for, so I didn't even think of cancer at first," he said.

Since his diagnosis, Riddleston has undergone a range of treatments, including androgen deprivation therapy, six cycles of chemotherapy, and daily radiotherapy. While he continues to work, he no longer treats prostate cancer patients, as he feels it is "too close to home." Riddleston is using his love of cycling to raise funds for prostate cancer charities, taking part in a 56-mile cycling challenge in Glasgow on September 7th.

Despite the challenges, Riddleston remains resilient, saying, "Those of us with stage four cancer, we don't all look ravaged and unhealthy - we're still capable, able, we still want to contribute, so there's a lot in it for me." As he continues his fight against the disease, Riddleston is "forever waiting" for the next test that may indicate the cancer is progressing, but he remains determined to make the most of the time he has.