Sir Chris Hoy 'lifted' by comments as he makes call for action over prostate cancer diagnosis
Sir Chris Hoy 'lifted' by comments as he makes call for action over prostate cancer diagnosis
The six-time Olympic champion was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2023 and has since been vocal about the need for more men to get tested for the disease
Sir Chris Hoy has hailed the support of his friends and family throughout his terminal cancer diagnosis
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Sir Chris Hoy has spoken out about the overwhelming support he's received since his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis, as he continues to advocate for changes in testing protocols.
The six-time Olympic gold medallist was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at the age of 47 in 2023, which has now spread to his bones. Despite being younger than the NHS's typical high-risk group, Hoy is calling for the testing age for prostate cancer to be lowered.
The Independent reports that the 49-year-old feels "incredibly lucky" for the support from friends, family, and the public. Hoy said: "I've faced many challenges in my life, and going public with my prostate cancer diagnosis was certainly one of them.
"I've been incredibly lucky to have so much support from my family, friends and the general public. The kindness has lifted me up and given me a sense of purpose, and I'm committed to taking that forward and using my platform to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men and help more men at risk to come forward and get tested."
Current NHS guidelines suggest men over 50 are at the highest risk, often leaving younger men without encouragement for early testing. Hoy's own experience underlines the importance of considering earlier screening.
Sir Chris Hoy believes more should be done to raise awareness for prostate cancer testing
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Hoy added: "I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at 47. By this age, my prostate cancer was advanced and could have been progressing from when I was 45 or even younger.
"With prostate cancer, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. We need the system to change to enable more men to get diagnosed earlier, and stop them getting the news I got."
Key signs of the condition include frequently needing the toilet, straining whilst urinating and a sensation that the bladder is not fully emptied. The NHS typically uses blood tests (prostate-specific antigen tests, or PSAs), a physical examination of the prostate, MRI scans, and biopsies for diagnosis.
Hoy's public appeal coincides with Prostate Cancer UK's efforts to push for a complete overhaul of NHS guidelines. The charity is urging GPs to proactively discuss the condition with men aged 45 who are at high risk.
Sir Chris Hoy has praised his family's support, including wife Sarra
(Image: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images )
As approximately one in eight men across the UK are likely to develop prostate cancer, failure to detect it early may lead to its spread.
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Reflecting on holding the public accountable for prostate cancer awareness, Hoy said: "I believe men at highest risk, for example men with a family history like me or black men, should be contacted by their GP earlier on to discuss a simple PSA blood test that can check for signs of prostate cancer.
"Then if there are any issues, they can get it treated it at an earlier stage. I've told my story to help raise awareness about the most common cancer in men and get more thinking about their risk and what they can do, but it shouldn't all be men's responsibility."
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