“Day one, the battle is on, who’s going to win? Man v chemo.”

Steve Prescott’s tweet to describe the start of a six month course of chemotherapy once again underlined how he can square up to adversity with a smile on his face.

And he has drawn strength from more than 700 replies that followed to his Twitter account as he deals with the debilitating side effects of the treatment.

Steve, who has suffered with the incurable abdominal cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei since 2006, was advised by specialists to start his latest treatment in a bid to control the disease.

Through his Twitter account, the father-of-two, who turns 39 in December, has shared with his followers the effects such as “sickness and pins and needles” . Target for the former Saints full back, who has become an inspirational endurance athlete since the diagnosis, is to be fit to take on another series of ambitious charity challenges in 2013.

In a statement his charitable foundation said: “Before Steve can embark on another round of inspiring fundraising activities he must undergo a course of chemotherapy at The Christie in Manchester.

“Over the next six months, he will face fortnightly treatment in order to control his condition.

“This will hopefully help to reduce the complications that frequently arise by the remaining disease within his abdomen.”

Meanwhile, the charitable foundation - which raises money for The Christie and the Rugby Football League (RFL) Benevolent Fund - has received a double sponsorship boost for 2013.

It will continue to receive support from long-standing sponsor Engage Mutual while St Helens-based Solar King UK will join the organisation as joint title sponsor.

For more information visit steveprescottfoundation.co.uk