Chris Hoy’s wife has praised her ‘real-life superhero’ after a wave of questions about cancer
Chris Hoy’s wife has said his decision to reveal his prostate cancer diagnosis has led to an increase in the number of men seeking advice, describing him as a “real-life superhero”.
The six-time Olympic gold medalist announced last weekend that he had “two to four years” to live after a scan showed the main cancer in his prostate had spread to his shoulder, pelvis, hip, ribs and spine. phase 4. He had announced in February that he had been diagnosed with the disease.
Sarra Hoy said her husband’s announcement that his condition was terminal would “likely save countless lives” and she was told the number of men seeking advice about prostate cancer had increased sevenfold.
In a video posted to his Instagram account on Thursday, Hoy, 48, said he was “completely overwhelmed” by the support he had received and “so grateful to everyone for their incredible kindness”. The increase in the number of men seeking advice about prostate cancer was a “huge comfort”, and he said: “Hopefully many lives can be saved by early testing.”
He said of his diagnosis: “It’s not the news anyone thinks they hear and it obviously came as a huge shock.” He said he and his family had taken time to process the news and that he now had a “deep resolve to turn this incredibly difficult diagnosis into something more positive”.
Sarra Hoy said the couple, who married in Edinburgh 14 years ago and had two children, had “so many more adventures planned”.
She shared a photo of the couple on holiday and wrote on Instagram: “Completely overwhelmed by your kind, thoughtful and helpful messages. Many people say they don’t know what to say – that’s okay, you don’t have to have the words – just taking the time to send a message is like a soothing balm for the soul. Thank you.
‘I’m told the number of men seeking advice about prostate cancer has increased sevenfold and Chris’ story is likely to save countless lives. This is breathtaking.”
She wrote: “Life is wonderful. We are excited about the future. We have so many more adventures planned… And I’m so lucky to be doing it all with @chrishoy1 – the most incredible person I’ve ever met. Watching him on the BBC this weekend was like watching a masterclass in strength of character, dignity and humility. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: he is truly my real superhero.”
Hoy has said his wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year.
The founder of the charity Prostate Scotland has also praised Hoy for speaking publicly about his condition, saying it will “undoubtedly” have an impact on awareness of the disease.
Prof. Alan McNeill, urological surgeon at NHS Lothian, said: “What he has done, I assume, he has done specifically to help others, so I think he should be admired and thanked for his courage in that, because he has a young family and it’s not easy. But in doing so there is no doubt that it has put the issue on the agenda.”
Hoy said last weekend that his father and grandfather had both been diagnosed with the disease. McNeill urged other men with a family history of prostate cancer to get tested in a bid to detect any cases early. He said: “If Chris Hoy can spare others with a similar family history, then he will have done something great, something great.”
Earlier this week, the charity Macmillan Cancer Support said Hoy’s announcement of his terminal diagnosis had led to the biggest increase in internet searches about the disease since the cancer diagnoses of King Charles and the Princess of Wales.