Olympic Cyclist Sir Chris Hoy Shares His Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer From A Common Shoulder Pain

A UK cancer charity wants men to undergo screening for prostate cancer. The charity points out that it is important to screen men born with a high risk of developing prostate cancer, once they reach the age of 45.

In the UK, there is no prostate cancer screening programme like those for breast, bowel and cervical cancer. The onus is therefore on men to request a blood test from their general practitioner once they are over 50. When not aware, it can become life-threatening as it did for Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic cyclist.

A Common Shoulder Pain Was Prostate Cancer

Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy was diagnosed with stage-4 prostate cancer, which was announced in February. After that, he and his wife Lady Sarra appeared on the This Morning interview, the first time after his cancer diagnosis was announced.

This six-time Olympic champion revealed that he had a pain in his shoulder when he was 47, which did not go away. "I was still lifting weights in the gym, still physically active. You are used to having aches and pains, but this one did not go away."

"I went to get the scan at the doctor's surgery and they brought the scan up and said 'there's a tumour on your shoulder, we need to find out what the root of this is.' So I had multiple scans and eventually the root of it was prostate, and it was stage four prostate cancer which had spread to the bones."

He shared he was shocked because he had no symptoms until there was shoulder pain. "It came out of the blue. I always prided myself as someone who would go to the doctor with illness or pain."

"As part of being an athlete, you are used to looking after your body and being quite aware of yourself, but in this case, it was too late by the time we had actually found the diagnosis." The doctor had given him two to four years to live after being diagnosed with this. He shares feeling nauseous in the room as nothing could have prepared him for this.

It was the guitarist Andy Taylor, who helped him stay positive. "Around the time of my diagnosis, he was in the news talking about his cancer treatment." Andy focused on the genetic mutation of cancer and though not cured, he was asymptomatic. "Immediately, you think there is your glint of light, you think if it works for one person, perhaps that might work for me."

More Men Are Drying

Despite more men dying from prostate cancer than women from breast cancer, as per BBC, there are no reliable tests for this. The blood test that men over 50 request from their general practitioner measure prostate-specific antigen (PSA), released by the prostate, a small gland located below the bladder involved in the production of semen.

However, experts say that PSA levels can be high for many other reasons too, including enlarged prostate, inflammation, infection, recent vigorous exercise or sex.

Prostate Cancer, and types

The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. It occurs when abnormal cells form and grow in that gland.

Experts say that not all prostate cancer is deadly. There are cancers that are slow-growing and will not affect a man's lifespan, which is found in 1 in 3 men over 50. Then there is a small number of very aggressive prostate cancers which move quickly and cause harm, this is why regular screening is important.

Chris too has called for more, younger men to be tested, including those with a family history of the disease.