Six time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy has shared an emotional detail about the journey of his terminal illness. In an hour-long BBC documentary, he revealed a key sign of prostate cancer which he mistook as ‘just getting old.’ At the start of the show, he said it was “scary” to hear the word cancer. “It was the summer of 2023, I had a pain in my shoulder and just assumed it was a sign of getting older. Aches and pains, as you expect”, he recalled. Hoy, the father of two, shared in the documentary, Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me, how a late night visit to the doctor ended up with devastating news. The doctor informed, “I’m really sorry, it’s prostate cancer, and it’s incurable.” His wife Lady Sarra Hoy revealed that the prognosis is said to be between two to four years. The cycling icon disclosed in 2024 that he was receiving treatment for prostate cancer. Sir Chris Hoy’s emotional journey highlights how simple pains or aches that are brushed off as something ‘normal’ can be the cause of something so serious as cancer. Chris shared that he advocated for people to get tested, they did, and despite no symptoms, some were told they had prostate cancer. Also read: Harrison Ford, aging gracefully at 83: 6 habits behind his long-term vitality
Prostate cancer signs and symptoms
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland. The prostate gland is at the base of the bladder and is about the size of a walnut. It is the most common cancer in men in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK. The cancer charity adds that Prostate cancer does not usually cause symptoms in the early stages. To cause symptoms, the cancer needs to be big enough to press on the tube you pass urine through (the urethra). Cancer Research UK adds that Prostate cancer rarely causes urinary symptoms such as difficulty passing urine. These symptoms are much more likely to be symptoms of a non-cancerous condition, which is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body. This is called advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. It can cause symptoms such as:– Back or bone pain that doesn’t go away with rest, similar to what Sir Chris Hoy experienced.– Tiredness– Weight loss for no reasonSome signs appear in the pee when cancer spreads, as per NHS. These are:
- finding it difficult to start peeing or straining to pee
- having a weak flow of urine
- “stop start” peeing
- needing to pee urgently or often, or both
- feeling like you still need to pee when you’ve just finished
- peeing during the night
Other symptoms of advanced prostate cancer can be: Erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, and lower back pain or losing weight without trying to. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice, treatment or diagnosis. The symptoms shared by Sir Chris Hoy in the BBC Documentary are his personal experience. Individual experience may differ. Only a professional health practitioner can diagnose these health conditions.
