‘A waking nightmare’, Sir Chris Hoy reveals heartbreaking moment he told his children he was dying of cancer
SIR Chris Hoy has revealed the heartbreaking moment he told his two children he was dying of cancer in his first TV about the devastating diagnosis.
The Scots Olympic legend, 48, announced last month he has terminal cancer and has been given two to fours years to live.
Sir Chris first made public in February that he was undergoing treatment including chemotherapy.
He had been diagnosed with primary cancer in his prostate.
But in a Sunday Times interview October, the cycling hero announced that it was terminal, with the cancer spreading into his bones.
He also revealed how wife Sarra had been diagnosed with incurable MS just weeks before he was told he had up to four years left to live
In his first TV interview since then, Sir Chris told BBC Breakfast‘s Sally Nugent how he broke the heartbreaking news to his two kids.
Chris and Sarra have two children, Callum and Chloe, who were aged nine and six at the time.
The Olympic gold medallist said the ordeal is a “waking nightmare” and an “absolute horror”.
But said they have all tried to be positive.
He added: “That was the first thought in my head.
“How on earth are we going to tell the kids? It’s just this absolute horror, it is a waking nightmare, living nightmare.
“We just tried to be positive and tried to say do you know what, this is what we’re doing and you can help because when I’m not feeling well, you can come and give me cuddles, you can be supportive, you can be happy, you can be kind to each other.
“I’m sure lots of families do it in different ways and I think there’s no one right approach for anyone. There’s no one-size-fits-all, but for us I think that was the best way to do it.”
He also revealed that he “wasn’t fussed” about potentially losing his hair, but son Callum did have some concerns.
Sir Chris added: “I think he was worried about what it would be like if I just suddenly turned up to pick him up at school with no hair and it might be a shock for him.”
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Symptoms of prostate cancer can include:
- Needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
- Straining or taking a long time while peeing
- Weak flow
- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- Blood in urine or blood in semen
Source: NHS
He also told of his “absolute shock and horror” at his initial diagnosis and the “nightmare” of having to break the news to his wife.
His diagnosis came after his father and grandfather were both diagnosed with prostate cancer.
In September 2023, a doctor delivered the awful news to Hoy that he had Stage 4 cancer.
What was first diagnosed as a tumour in his shoulder, the primary cancer was located in his prostate.
It had then unfortunately spread to his bones, pelvis, hip, spine, shoulder and rib.
Medics have given Hoy two to four years to live.
Sarra’s condition was spotted when she went for a scan after experiencing a tingling sensation in her face and tongue.