Regular Checkups Help Runner Catch Cancer Early

When something just feels a little off with your body, it’s very easy to brush it aside and think it’ll get better on it’s own. Not everything is going to be serious, but getting checked out is still the right decision. For one Canton man, he's grateful for those appointments and glad he didn’t ignore the subtle signs of something serious.

I guess you could say the love of running is in Mike Rhode’s blood.

“I try to knock out the runs early in the morning while everyone's asleep. I've been doing that probably for over 25 years now,” said Rhode.

That passion has fueled him to enter countless races and to share his experiences as a cross country coach. On the outside, Mike’s the picture of health, but after a 10 mile run last winter, symptoms of a deeper issue began showing up.

“It was just a little bit of pinkish stuff in my urine and I didn't think anything of it,” said Rhode.

Even Subtle Symptoms Shouldn't Be Ignored

But when the problem didn’t go away, Mike knew exactly who to turn to.

“Mike's a really healthy guy. I didn't really need to see him for much outside of physicals. And pretty much, I'd see him once a year. We'd check some labs, just make sure things were normal at baseline, and everything was good. Didn't really need me too much,” said Mark List, MD with Avera Family Medicine.

Given his younger 49 years of age, Mike’s symptoms initially appeared to be a sign of dehydration or overworking.

“I initially internally thought, we'll take the urine sample and then we'll have him drink more and decrease this exercise for a little bit and recheck. And the minute I got that first urine test back, I said, you've got to go to urology. This was clearly not normal,” said Dr. List.

After additional tests and scopes, the team at urology discovered a 2 centimeter mass next to his ureter — and confirmed he had bladder cancer.

“OK, you know, take a step back here. I'm like, what? What do I do? How extreme is this?” said Rhode.

“Based on everything that he had, he had one solitary site of high-grade cancer that was non-muscle invasive, which puts him into the intermediate risk category,” said Spencer Edman, MD with Urology Specialists.

Thankfully for Mike, his cancer was caught early and days after diagnosis, the tumor was removed. All those years of running have prepared him for this new marathon — a two year chemotherapy treatment plan.

“I roll in about 10 o'clock or so, and then they'll do one treatment for hour and a half, let it go out, and then they'll do another treatment for an hour and a half and let it go. And then, you know, usually by 2:30 or 3 o'clock, I'm on my way type of thing,” said Rhode.

Building Trust and Accountability

By all accounts, Mike did everything right health wise and while it didn’t prevent the cancer, his habits played a vital role in catching it early when it’s most treatable.

“I think it highlights the importance of having a primary care provider, having somebody who knows you, that you know, having that relationship. Because I knew when he messaged me, something was definitely up. And so we took it seriously and went from there,” said Dr. List.

“Make your husbands get their physicals! Make your husbands get their physicals. If something is off, go see the doctor because it really could save their life,” said Nikki Rhode, Mike’s wife.

Even with the fatigue and side effects of his treatment, Mike hasn’t slowed down. Every day he’s strengthening his body as well as his mind — all while inching closer to that cancer journey finish line.

“It's not only running, it's all the little things of, how can I be a better husband? How can I be a better parent? It's the little things that build up and you do those building blocks that make the house,” said Rhode.

In May of 2026, Mike completed a 20 mile race in Hills, MN. He is currently aiming to complete a marathon and 50K – while also looking to complete his chemotherapy next June.

Learn more about primary care and preventative screenings at Avera.