Olympian Sir Chris Hoy has shared a heartbreaking update about his cancer, which is terminal and spread to his body.
The renowned cyclist was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in 2023 at the age of 47. He was told that he had just two to four years to live.
Even though Chris is focusing on living in the present, the terminal illness has taken a toll on his life.
Chris has been given two to four years to live (Credit: BBC)
The cycling champion is urging people to speak to their ‘husband, dad, brother or friend’ about the disease.
Sir Chris urged people to speak to their husband, dad, brother or friend (Image: Marks & Spencer)
Thousands of men have come forward to check their risk of prostate cancer online following a heartfelt plea from cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy. The Olympian, 48, announced his own terminal diagnosis last year and launched a campaign urging men to “spark a conversation and check” two weeks ago. More than 75,000 people have since used Prostate Cancer UK’s online risk checker, which takes just 30 seconds.
Some 61,000 men were identified as being at higher risk and advised to speak to their GP about having a PSA blood test. Sir Chris’s campaign in partnership with Marks & Spencer has seen his message shared in stores across the country. It has also raised £55,000 for the charity through sales of men’s underwear. Sir Chris told the Daily Express: “In just two weeks we have made a huge impact raising vital funds for groundbreaking research into prostate cancer.
“But more than that, we’ve got thousands of men talking and checking their risk online, particularly those that are deemed to be the most at risk.
“This month is prostate cancer awareness month so whoever you are, whatever your age, I urge you to start a conversation with your husband, dad, brother or friend.
“Or maybe it’s about just having a conversation with yourself. It’s only three questions, 30 seconds, what are you waiting for? It’s time to check, mate.”
By the time Sir Chris began experiencing symptoms and received a diagnosis, his cancer had already spread beyond his prostate and into his bones.
He underwent chemotherapy but received the news that the disease was terminal, with doctors giving him between two and four years to live.
The six-time Olympic cycling champion has since worked to raise awareness of the importance of getting an early diagnosis, at a stage when treatment is more likely to be successful.
Prostate Cancer UK chief executive Laura Kerby said Sir Chris had “changed the way the UK thinks about prostate cancer – with more men now aware of their risk and the option to ask their GP about a simple PSA blood test, and politicians talking seriously about screening”.
She added: “His impact has already been huge, and we were thrilled to team up with Sir Chris and Marks & Spencer to keep this momentum going.
“Our partnership has already started changing and saving lives. Tens of thousands of men have taken that all-important first step of taking our online Risk Checker, which will certainly lead to more men getting an earlier, curable diagnosis who might otherwise have got much worse news.
“What’s more, the thousands of pounds raised by M&S customers will mean we can support more men living with prostate cancer, and fuel research into our TRANSFORM screening trial and better treatments.
“We’re grateful to Sir Chris, M&S, and shoppers across the UK for making this happen.”
