‘I’ll never forget the words, it’s incurable’: Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy calls for men to undergo prostate cancer screening from the age of 45 after the ‘horror and shock’ of his own terminal diagnosis

Sir Chris Hoy has spoken movingly about what he called the ‘toughest year of my life’ following his incurable prostate cancer diagnosis.

There was widespread support when the cycling legend revealed last month that he had been given a terminal diagnosis and was given just two years to live.

In an interview with the BBC last night he described the feeling of “absolute horror and shock” when he was told that what he thought were just “pains” in his shoulder was actually a tumor.

“I will never forget the words, it is incurable but manageable,” he said, adding that the chemotherapy treatment was “like torture” but that he felt “lucky” because he had more time on his hands than some others.

“I’m not delusional; I know what the end result will be. But no one lives forever,” he said.

Sir Chris, 48, also took the opportunity to call on the NHS to roll out prostate cancer screening for men aged 45 and over, adding that this was ‘a no-brainer’ and could ‘save millions of lives’.

Recalling how his grandfather and father both suffered from prostate cancer, he added: ‘If you have a family history like me, and you are over 45, see your doctor.

‘To me it makes sense: why not do the test a little earlier? Catch it before you need major treatment, it seems like a no-brainer to me.

There was an outpouring of support when the six-time Olympic gold medalist revealed last month that he had been given a terminal diagnosis and was given just two years to live.

In an interview with the BBC last night, he described the ‘absolute horror and shock’ of being told that what he thought was just ‘ache and pain’ in his shoulder was actually a tumour.

“Why not lower the age, lower the age, and allow more men to just go in and get a blood test.”

Currently the NHS does not offer prostate cancer screening – with all men over a certain age invited for regular tests, in the same way that breast, cervical and bowel cancers are screened.

Men aged 50 and over can ask their GP for a PSA blood test, which detects prostate problems regardless of the symptoms.

However, those aged 49 and under cannot be officially offered the same test unless doctors have strong reason to suspect prostate disease.

Sir Chris said he hoped to see this change. ‘Maybe people will hear my story and ask their GP [for a test] will generate enough interest that the people making the decision will address it.

“In the long run, logically speaking, it will potentially save millions of lives.”