Sir Chris Hoy has opened up about the toughest part of living with stage 4 cancer. The 50-year-old Olympic cyclist was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2023 and revealed a year later that it had spread to his bones. Doctors gave him an estimated two to four years to live, but he has vowed to stay positive and recently insisted he is “doing fine”.
Mental challenge is the hardest
In an interview with The Big Issue, Chris said the mental side of his cancer diagnosis had been “the biggest challenge by far”. He added: “The physical side is difficult, but the mental side is a real challenge.” He also stressed: “I don’t want to present myself as someone doing really well, everything’s great, I’ve cracked it. There are some days where it’s really tough. There are ups and downs.”
Chris said what helps him most is focusing on the present rather than spiralling into “what ifs” about the future. “You can get through the most difficult of moments if you bring yourself back to the here and now and don’t try and think too far ahead,” he said, adding: “I think we always try to predict the future.”
Raising awareness and staying active
Since his diagnosis, the former track cyclist has used his platform to raise awareness and money for cancer causes, including through his charity cycling project, Tour de 4, which supports people affected by the disease. He has also continued working in sport, including involvement linked to Glasgow’s 2026 Commonwealth Games, where he has been providing track cycling analysis.
Speaking to Sky Sports last year, the father-of-two said while his cancer is terminal, his condition had reached a stable phase. “I’ve entered a bit of a stability stage at the moment. I’m feeling good, exercising, riding the bike, busy — and most importantly cancer is not the first thing I think about in the morning when I wake up and it’s not the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night,” he said.
Prostate cancer symptoms and advice
The NHS says prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer in men in the UK, often causes no symptoms in its early stages. It is often easier to treat when diagnosed at an early stage. Possible symptoms include difficulty starting to urinate or emptying the bladder, a weak flow, a feeling that the bladder hasn’t emptied properly, dribbling urine after finishing, needing to urinate more often than usual (especially at night), and a sudden need to urinate with possible leaking. Other symptoms can include erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, lower back pain, and unexplained weight loss (which may be signs of advanced prostate cancer). While symptoms can have other causes, anyone with concerns is advised to speak to their GP. A PSA blood test can help identify potential prostate problems, even if there are no obvious signs.
