Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy has urged men across Scotland to undergo prostate cancer screening, as he launched a major initiative aimed at testing 25,000 people for the disease. The six-time gold medallist, who revealed his own diagnosis of incurable prostate cancer in October 2024, said the disease had given him a 'new purpose'.
Speaking at the launch of the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative in Glasgow, Sir Chris emphasised that the PSA blood test was simple and painless. 'It could save your life,' he said. 'I always assumed there would be some kind of symptoms or early-warning signs. That's not always the case.'
The initiative aims to improve early detection rates, with figures showing 35% of men in Scotland diagnosed too late to be cured, compared to 12.5% in London. Professor Sir Chris Evans, whose company EDX Medical Group is delivering the project, said early detection saves lives and reduces government costs.
Men can book a free PSA test from Tuesday at www.scottishprostate.com. The results will be sent back within days, and those found to have late-stage disease will receive treatment. The findings will be made available to NHS Scotland.
