Raising awareness of prostate cancer has given me purpose, says Chris Hoy
RAISING awareness of prostate cancer has given Chris Hoy 'a purpose', he has said.
One of Scotland's most decorated athletes, Hoy announced his diagnosis last year, shocking the sporting world.
But far from slowing down, the 11-time world champion track cyclist and six-time Olympic gold medallist has turned his hand to campaigning, urging more men to be aware of the dangers of the disease.
The inbox on his Instagram account, he told the Sunday Times, is 'stacked' with men saying news of his diagnosis had spurred them to get tested and they had managed to catch it early.
READ MORE: Orkney prepares to welcome athletes for the ultimate island showdown
'That gives me a huge lift,' he told the newspaper.
He works alongside Prostate Cancer UK, which provides an online risk-checking tool that has been used by more than 180,000 men.
'That campaign has saved lives,' he said.
'And you know, in all the chaos and all the fear and all the horror of first being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, you can never imagine any positive outcome coming from that situation.
'So to know that there is one has given me a purpose.
'In difficult moments you remind yourself, actually there is a net positive from this whole situation. And I'm lucky because I have a platform.'
Since his own diagnosis, it was announced his wife Sarra had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Asked about his wife's illness, Hoy says she 'doesn't talk about it a massive amount'.
'I think she's just determined to try and not allow it to get its feet under the table,' he said.
'It fluctuates, so she gets good days and bad days.
'When the days are difficult, she doesn't ever admit to it, but clearly the thoughts are, 'is this the start of a decline? Is this how it's going to be from now on?'
'It's very difficult, and she's so stoic and strong, and not willing to ask for sympathy.'
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To relieve your symptoms, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can also gargle with warm water and salt rinse and suck on throat lozenges. 8. Tonsillitis Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils — the two soft growths in the back of your throat that help your body fight infections. Both viruses and bacteria can cause tonsillitis. Along with a sore throat, symptoms of tonsillitis can also include: red, swollen tonsils white patches on the tonsils fever swollen lymph nodes in the neck hoarse voice bad breath headache Treatment options If bacteria caused tonsillitis, your doctor could prescribe antibiotics to treat it. Viral tonsillitis will improve on its own within a week to 10 days. Here are some things you can do to feel better while you recover: Drink a lot of fluids. Warm drinks like tea and broth are soothing to the throat. Gargle with a mixture of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt a few times a day. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Put on a cool-mist humidifier to add moisture to the air. Dry air can make a sore throat worse. Suck on throat lozenges. Rest until you feel better. 9. Mononucleosis Mononucleosis, or mono, is a disease caused by a virus. It passes from person to person through saliva. One of the hallmark symptoms of mono is a scratchy throat. Other symptoms include: tiredness fever swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits headache swollen tonsils Treatment options Because a virus causes mono, antibiotics won't treat it. Here are some tips to help you feel better until your body gets over the infection: Get plenty of rest to give your immune system a chance to fight off the virus. Drink extra fluids to avoid dehydration. Take over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to bring down a fever and relieve your sore throat. Suck on a lozenge and gargle with warm salt water to help with throat pain. 10. Overuse of voice Overusing your voice, like yelling during a music concert, can cause your vocal cords to become irritated or inflamed. It can also lead to laryngitis. Other symptoms include: hoarseness weak or lost voice raw or sore throat Treatment options Viral laryngitis will improve on its own, usually within two weeks. Here are a few tips to help you feel better: Rest your voice. Drink extra fluids, especially warm tea or broth. Suck on a lozenge and gargle with warm salt water to help with throat pain. Take over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to relieve your sore throat. When to see your doctor In some cases, you may be able to relieve your symptoms with home treatment. But if your symptoms last longer than a week or worsen, see a doctor. They can make a diagnosis and work with you on a care plan. You should also see a doctor if you experience more severe symptoms. Severe symptoms include: a severe sore throat that makes it painful to swallow shortness of breath, wheezing rash chest pain excessive tiredness during the day loud snoring at night fever higher than 101°F (38°C)
