As reported in the news this week, Sir Chris Hoy, 11 time world track cyclist champion and 6 time Olympic Gold medal winner has bravely spoken about being diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. Stage 4 cancer means that it has metastasised (spread) to other parts of the body and that it is incurable or terminal. He has been told that he has 2-4 years to live. Chris is only 48 years old.

Sir Chris Hoy initially thought that he had strained his shoulder when he experienced pain and he was referred for a scan. He was then told a tumour had been found and it was identified that it had spread from the prostate. Further scans showed tumours in his pelvis, hip, spine and rib. He has since undergone chemotherapy.

The diagnosis came as a huge shock to Sir Chris who had no symptoms from the cancer when it was at an early stage and being an Olympian, he was fit and healthy.

Sir Chris’ diagnosis is devastating news but the positive that has come from it is that it is raising awareness of prostate cancer and stimulating discussion about a topic that many men feel is taboo. There has been a near eight-fold increase in NHS searches for prostate cancer symptoms since Sir Chris has spoken about his diagnosis. In the 48 hours after he confirmed the news, NHS England has had 14,478 visits to their symptoms advice website, compared to 1,876 in the previous week, which is a rise of 672%.

Prostate cancer is more often diagnosed in men aged 70 plus but as the case of Sir Chris shows, it can affect men who are much younger. The prostate is situated just below the bladder in men and plays a vital role in semen production and ejaculation.

There are around 55,000 new cases of prostate cancer each year in the UK. Although Sir Chris did not have any prostate related symptoms, there can be early symptoms which are put down to being ‘man problems’. There are signs men of all ages need to be aware of, including:

A need to urinate frequently, especially at night, some- times urgently

• Difficulty starting or holding back urination
• Weak, dribbling, or interrupted flow of urine
• Painful or burning urination
• Difficulty in having an erection
• A decrease in the amount of fluid ejaculated
• Painful ejaculation
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Pressure of pain in the rectum
• Bone and back, hip, pelvis or thigh pain
• Loss of appetite
• Unexpected weight loss
• Fatigue
• Pain in the testicles

If any of these symptoms are noticed, then it is important to contact your GP as soon as possible and discuss whether a PSA test is needed. A PSA test (prostate specific antigen) shows a hormone that is produced by the prostate in higher amounts if there is a problem with the gland. The NHS states that any man over 50 can request a PSA test from their GP, regardless of symptoms.

Prostate cancer if caught early is highly treatable and many men are able to live well with prostate cancer. 9 in 10 men with the disease will survive for 5 years or more and 8 in 10 survive 10 years. For more information about prostate health, please visit Prostate Cancer UK.

Our clinical negligence team have substantial experience in pursuing claims concerning prostate cancer, including concerning delay in diagnosis. To speak to our clinical negligence team in respect of a potential prostate cancer claim, please call 01482 323697 or contact us via our online form.