Sir Chris Hoy reveals second his life was a ‘dwelling nightmare’

Brave Chris Hoy said his world has turned into a “living nightmare” after his shoulder ache was diagnosed as terminal cancer.

Two weeks ago the six times Olympic cycling champion revealed his diagnosis but said he will continue to “battle against” it – in the same way he battled for Olympic glory.

The 48-year-old labelled the chemotherapy he is undergoing as “excruciating” but said he is trying to focus on the positives.

He said of the moment he was told by doctors: “I remember the feeling of just absolute horror and shock. It is a living nightmare. The stakes are much higher now.

“It’s been the toughest year of our lives so far by some stretch.”

Sir Chris said that the news, which was given by doctors in September 2023, came completely out of the blue.

“(There were) no symptoms, no warnings, nothing. All I had was a pain in my shoulder and a little bit of pain in my ribs. But this ache and pain didn’t go away.

“I remember the feeling of just absolute horror and shock. I just basically walked back in a daze. I couldn’t believe the news and I was just trying to process it, I don’t remember walking.”

The NHS will now review its guidance on testing for prostate cancer earlier in light of the star’s “powerful” call for more men to be screened.

“Suddenly, everything, all your thoughts, everything rushes. It’s almost like your life is flashing before your eyes in that moment,” he continued.

“It does feel like this isn’t real. You feel that you want to get out, you feel like you’re a caged animal, you want to get out of that consulting room and get away from the hospital and run away from it all.”

But he added that accepting it wasn’t something he could run from has been the first step.

The Olympic hero says he now takes it a day at a time, tries to stay strong with gym sessions and enjoys every second he can with his family.

“I know what the end result will be,” he said. “Nobody lives forever. Our time on this planet is finite. Don’t waste your time worrying about stuff that isn’t that important.

“Focus on the things that are important, focus on your family, the people in your life. Do that thing that you’ve always planned to do one day, why not do it today.”