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Sir Chris Hoy has admitted prostate cancer was “not on our radar” during his career as he gave an update on his terminal illness.
The six-time Olympic gold medalist was first diagnosed with cancer in September last year after a tumor was discovered on his shoulder. However, two months ago he announced that his condition was incurable as a scan revealed primary cancer in his prostate which had metastasized to his bones.
With only two to four years left to live, Hoy is undergoing treatment and remains confident that he can defy his doctors’ prognosis. In the meantime, he has been working to raise men’s awareness of the disease, a move that has already had a major impact across the country.
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Prostate Cancer UK revealed the 48-year-old’s announcement in October had led to almost 300,000 men carrying out an online check, finding over 75% of them were at risk due to factors such as family history. Appearing on BBC Breakfast last week, Hoy himself admitted that he did not expect he would be at risk of cancer during his career, despite both his father and grandfather having faced the disease.
“I think you were very conscious of your physical fitness,” he said. “You were very conscious of your performance on the bike and the data behind it and how you felt in terms of recovery from training sessions or races, but it wasn’t actually something we talked about – not because there was necessarily a stigma attached to it was.” but only because it probably wasn’t on our radar.
“If you’re young, fit and healthy, you assume you’re immune to it,” he added. “You think that applies to the future. When you’re 50, you start thinking about prostate cancer and getting checked. Even though I had family history, I had my grandpa and my father, but actually I should have thought about it earlier.”
Hoy is now an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK’s The Bigger 180 campaign at the World Darts Championship. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the disease by encouraging men to complete a 30-second risk check. The campaign will also donate £1,000 for every 180 points scored during the tournament, with a bonus of £180,000 for every perfect nine-dart leg.
But the legendary Team GB cyclist has already had a huge impact on the number of men undergoing checks, as Laura Kerby, chief executive of Prostate Cancer UK, explained: “Since Sir Chris came out with his story we have seen a significant impact. We have.” Almost 300,000 men have completed our online checker on the Prostate Cancer UK website.
“Important because I think that’s what Sir Chris’ story reflects, that we saw 40,000 men with a family history – because it’s about making men aware that although there is a risk of prostate cancer, it’s actually a higher one There is a risk of family history” – and the fact that so many men have come forward in this area – I think is a fact that really resonates.
“Chris will be the ambassador for the Paddy Power The Bigger 180 (campaign at the) World Darts Championships, which will seek to reach a further 180,000 men and raise money for the clinical transformation trial,” she added. “The important reason is that by that time you (Sir Chris) will have almost half a million men who you have encouraged to come forward to take on the underwriting role and have thereby saved hundreds and thousands of lives.”
It came as Hoy left BBC viewers in tears during his appearance at this year’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards, which was broadcast on Tuesday night. The Scot was invited to announce the winner of this year’s award, but not before giving a rousing speech in a segment about the Paris Olympics.
In an emotional moment, Hoy took to the stage in Salford and said: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are special. Every four long years, this date is always on the calendar.”
“As an athlete, when you pull back the curtains in the morning and see the frost on the floor, you sometimes ask yourself: Is it worth leaving the warm bed and heading into the cold and darkness to face the inevitable pain of training? ?’ 1460 days of pure obsession for a single event. But I’m telling you, it’s worth it. This summer, Paris showed us that it’s worth it.
“A sporting party of epic proportions. Thousands of Olympians and Paralympians treated all of us at home to life’s final, truly unfiltered drama for six glorious weeks. Team GB and Paralympics GB crossed the Channel carrying in their hearts all your hopes and dreams. And whether they took home the gold medal or fell woefully short, we were proud of each and every one of them.
“That’s what drives us as competitors,” he added. “The idea that we need to represent something bigger than ourselves. And what this summer has shown more than anything else is that the spirit of the games, the spirit of our team, is unbroken.”
“Now it’s up to all of you, athletes, coaches, mothers, fathers, fans – never let this incredible team fade away. Together we have built something truly special. We had a team to be proud of at the Summer Games in Paris. “Please join me in applauding our Team GB and Paralympics GB heroes!”
