Sir Chris Hoy's emotional plea answered as 'staggering' response to cancer diagnosis emerges

Sir Chris Hoy has seen one of his wishes come true as thousands more men are now getting screened for prostate cancer following his devastating diagnosis.

The six-time Olympic champion revealed in 2024 that he'd been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer after a routine check-up with his GP. The illness had spread from Hoy'sprostate into his bones, leaving the cycling legend with just two to four years to live.

Hoy was determined to smash the taboo surrounding cancer screening, having never been offered the PSA test that detects the disease - despite his dad and granddad both battling the same condition.

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Fresh NHS figures reported by The Telegraph reveal nearly 5,000 additional men have been referred for urological cancer checks in the six months since the 49-year-old went public with his news. The data shows 138,734 more males received urgent referrals for urological cancers - with prostate cancer being the primary type - between October 2024 and March 2025.

This represents an extra 4,962 cases compared to the same period the previous year, a surge that medical experts are calling "staggering."

Prostate cancer remains the most prevalent form of the disease amongst men, with roughly one in eight British males receiving the diagnosis during their lifetime. Separate data has revealed a significant surge in the number of men with a family history of prostate cancer checking their own risk, with usage of online risk checkers increasing by 77% over the same period.

Despite his diagnosis, Hoy remains optimistic about his future and continues to fundraise and raise awareness for cancer charities nationwide. He recently launched Tour de 4, an initiative aimed at raising funds for cancer charities and changing perceptions of those living with the disease.

Earlier this year, Hoy spoke about his desire for more men to come forward, as he said: "I've faced many challenges in my life, and going public with my prostate cancer diagnosis was certainly one of them.

"I've been incredibly lucky to have so much support from my family, friends and the general public. The kindness has lifted me up and given me a sense of purpose.

"I'm committed to taking that forward and using my platform to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men and help more men at risk to come forward and get tested."

He added: "I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at 47. By this age, my prostate cancer was advanced and could have been progressing from when I was 45 or even younger.

"With prostate cancer, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. We need the system to change to enable more men to get diagnosed earlier, and stop them getting the news I got."