Sir Chris’s courage in cancer battle is an inspiration to us all - Steve Cardownie

Six-time Olympic champion cyclist Chris Hoy with one of his gold medals

As someone who was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years ago, I was all too aware of the nature of this disease and the potential life-threatening challenge that it poses.

In Chris Hoy’s case, he said that he had been diagnosed with primary cancer in his prostate which had spread to his bones, meaning that it was stage four. He posted on Instagram that: “You may have seen the news this weekend some articles about my health, so I just wanted to reassure you all that I’m feeling fit, strong and positive and overwhelmed by all the love and support shown to my family and me.”

Sir Chris’s positive outlook was reinforced when he said that: “You remind yourself, aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible.”

He told the newspaper that he has known for a year that his cancer is terminal after learning that tumours were discovered in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and rib. His courage in disclosing this very personal information and the manner in which he has treated it should serve as an inspiration to us all. But it should also serve as a wake-up call!

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and more than 3000 men are diagnosed with it in Scotland every year, with more than 1000 a year dying from it. More than 32,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer in Scotland. Sobering statistics that surely must provide food for thought.

Prostate Cancer UK has published a great deal of information that details what the prostate is, what it does and what can go wrong with it. It explains the most common prostate problems, what changes to look out for, what to do if you think that you have a prostate problem and what might happen at a GP’s surgery.

But it is extremely important to bear in mind that, as in my case, there might not be any symptoms at all, and had I not insisted on getting a blood test to establish my Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels (which, if are too high, might indicate that there may be a problem) I might have left it too late and been faced with a much more serious situation than I did.

In Sir Chris’s case his cancer was discovered last year after a routine scan for shoulder pain which he thought stemmed from an injury while lifting weights at the gym which revealed a tumour, so there was not a lot he could do to catch the disease any earlier.

I have had the privilege of meeting and chatting with Sir Chris on a few occasions and was struck by his kind, positive demeanour. He went out of his way to engage with the people around him and is a fantastic ambassador for not only cycling, but of all sports.

His decision to make his condition public knowledge and to give us an insight into how he is dealing with it is entirely in keeping with the man and our thoughts are with him and his family.