The easy-to-ignore signs of prostate cancer you should NEVER ignore as Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy reveals terminal diagnosis

British cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy has revealed he has incurable prostate cancer and could have “two to four years to live” aged just 48.

The 11-time Olympic gold medalist said in February that he was undergoing treatment for cancer, but did not say what form of the disease he had.

Fans were shocked today when he admitted his bleak prognosis, as the cancer had spread.

Although prostate cancer is typically diagnosed in men over the age of 70, there have been dramatic increases in the disease in patients under the age of 50 since the early 1990s.

It’s not entirely clear why, since most prostate cancer isn’t clearly linked to lifestyle factors like obesity like other cancers, but there are signs that men of all ages should have into account

British cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy has revealed he has incurable prostate cancer and could have “two to four years to live” aged just 48.

Fans were shocked when Sir Chris admitted his bleak prognosis, due to the cancer having spread

Mystery about the causes of early-onset prostate cancer

There are approximately 55,000 new cases of prostate cancer each year in the UK and the highest rate is in men aged 70-74.

It is the most common male cancer and more than 12,000 die annually from the disease.

There has been an overall increase of more than 50% in diagnoses since 1990, but the largest increases have occurred in younger men.

Prostate cancer diagnosed before age 55 is sometimes called “young onset.”

Doctors do not know why, although demographic changes in the UK – black men have twice the risk of prostate cancer, compared to other ethnicities – may play a role.

Black men who have a direct relative, such as a father or sibling, with prostate cancer have a four-fold increased risk.

The increase could also be due to better awareness, testing and diagnosis.

Although there are some pointers such as obesity, lack of physical activity and exposure to infections may increase the risk, more research is needed.

How early-onset prostate cancer is different

Sir Chris Hoy, 48, began chemotherapy earlier this year and has now revealed that his cancer is sadly at an advanced stage.

This means it has spread beyond the prostate and throughout the body, making a cure very unlikely.

He also said that he might only have two years to live.

Prostate cancer, if detected early, is highly treatable. In total, nine out of ten men with the disease will survive five years or more, and eight out of ten survive ten years.

The outlook is much less good for advanced prostate cancer, with survival dropping to one to three years.

Prostate cancer in younger men is more likely to be diagnosed at this stage, leading experts to believe it is a more aggressive type.

The easy-to-ignore symptoms that no man should ignore

Because prostate cancer, like other cancers, is best treated in the early stages, experts say all adult men should be aware of changes that could be a sign of the disease.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located just below the bladder in men. It plays a vital role in the production of semen and ejaculation.

Because of its location, it is the most common cause of urinary symptoms. If a man notices this, it is important to speak to a GP and discuss whether something called a PSA test might be warranted.

PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a hormone that the prostate produces in higher amounts if there is a problem with the gland.

One of the most common signs that something is wrong with the prostate is a change in urinary frequency.

While the amount of urine people urinate can vary widely—four to ten times or so is considered normal—it’s a noticeable increase that experts say men need to be aware of.

Sudden urges to go to the bathroom can also be a sign of a problem.

This could be accompanied by difficulty starting to urinate, known medically as hesitancy.

Straining or taking a long time to empty the bladder, a weaker than normal flow, and the feeling that the bladder has not been completely emptied are also symptoms.

Blood in the urine or semen should also be checked by a doctor without delay.

These symptoms do not always mean that a man has prostate cancer; more often than not, it could simply be a sign of benign prostate problems that affect more than half of men.

Signs of advanced cancer that may have spread include bone and back pain, loss of appetite and unexpected weight loss, and pain in the testicles.

What you should do if you are worried

The NHS states that any man over 50 can request a PSA test from their GP regardless of symptoms.

A PSA test alone cannot diagnose prostate cancer: sexual activity, vigorous exercise, certain medications, urinary tract infections, and benign prostate enlargement, all of which are very common, can raise PSA.

However, along with the symptoms, it may warrant a prostate exam and possibly more tests.

For more information on prostate health visit Prostate Cancer UK.

If a younger man is experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, a PSA test and prostate exam may be worth it.

The NHS states that any man over 50 can request a PSA test from their GP regardless of symptoms.

Liverpool prostate surgeon Marc Lucky said: ‘Any man concerned about his prostate over the age of 45 should be offered a PSA test.

“It’s important to discuss changes in urinary patterns with your doctor, as well as any other concerns.”

PSA tests are also available from private doctors and home tests are available from pharmacists, costing as little as £30.

“If a younger man gets an abnormal result, it might warrant a referral to an experienced urologist who can perform an exam and other tests,” adds Lucky.