Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy reveals doctors have given him just four years to live in terminal cancer diagnosis
OLYMPICS legend Sir Chris Hoy has revealed doctors have given him just four years to live in a terminal cancer diagnosis.
In February six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris, 48, said he was being “treated for cancer”.
Writing on Instagram at the time, he said treatment was “thankfully going really well – I’m optimistic, positive”.
But Sir Chris in fact knew that the cancer was terminal and that the treatment was “management”.
He went on to commentate the cycling events for the BBC at this year’s Paris Olympics despite his terminal cancer diagnosis.
The star had gone to the doctor in September last year after feeling a strain in his shoulder.
A tumour was found in his shoulder – before a second scan found the primary cancer in his prostate.
The prostate cancer had metastasised to Sir Chris’s bones – including his shoulder, pelvis, ribs, spine and ribs.
He has revealed today that he has terminal cancer and has been given two to four years to live.
Brave Sir Chris told the Sunday Times: “As unnatural as it feels, this is nature.
“You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process.
“You remind yourself, aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible.”
Team GB cycling legend Sir Chris and his wife Sarra have two children, seven-year-old Chloe and 10-year-old Callum.
Sir Chris recounted how he told his children that no-one lives for ever but he hopes to “be here for many, many more years”.
He began chemotherapy in November, wearing an extremely painful cold cap to keep his hair.
The sportsman suffered a violent allergic reaction in gruelling chemo sessions – but only missed five days of training on a bike.
He has now written a heartbreaking memoir detailing his experience of terminal cancer.
Sir Chris revealed that his wife Sarra was diagnosed with incurable and degenerative multiple sclerosis just weeks before his cancer shock.
The couple have chosen low-risk but less effective treatments for Sarra’s MS.
On some days Sarra struggles to fit in the key in the door, Sir Chris said.
The couple have not yet told their two children about Sarra’s MS diagnosis.
Sir Chris said recording the audio version of his memoir is the hardest thing he has ever done.
The book ends with Sir Chris’s message to his children – which he said will be the words they listen to when he is gone.
All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet by Sir Chris Hoy is published on November 7.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Symptoms of prostate cancer can include:
- needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- needing to rush to the toilet
- difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
- straining or taking a long time while peeing
- weak flow
- feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- blood in urine or blood in semen
Source: NHS