Sir Chris Hoy has spoken movingly about what he called “the most difficult year of my life” following his diagnosis with incurable prostate cancer.

There was an outpouring of support when the cycling legend revealed last month that he had received a terminal diagnosis and was given just two years to live.

In an interview with the BBC last night he described feeling “absolute horror and shock” when he was told that what he thought was just “pain” in his shoulder was actually a tumor.

“I will never forget those words, it’s incurable but manageable,” he said, adding that the chemotherapy treatment was “like torture” but that he felt “lucky” because he had more left. time than others.

“I have no illusions, I know what the end result will be. But no one lives forever,” he said.

Sir Chris, 48, also took the opportunity to call on the NHS to extend prostate cancer screening to men aged 45 and over, adding it was a “no-brainer” and “could save lives.” millions of lives.”

Recalling how his grandfather and father both suffered from prostate cancer, he added: “If you have a family history like me and you are over 45, go see your doctor.

“It makes sense to me: why not take the test a little earlier. Get it before you have to undergo major treatment, seems like a no-brainer to me.

There was an outpouring of support when the six-time Olympic gold medalist revealed last month that he had received a terminal diagnosis and was given just two years to live.

In an interview with the BBC last night, he described the “absolute horror and shock” of learning that what he thought was just “pain” in his shoulder was actually a tumor.

“Why don’t you lower the age, lower the age, allow more men to just come in and get a blood test.”

Currently the NHS does not offer prostate cancer screening – where all men over a set age are invited for regular tests, in the same way as breast, cervical and of the intestine are screened.

Men aged 50 and over can ask their GP for a PSA blood test – which detects prostate problems – regardless of symptoms.

However, people aged 49 and under cannot officially be offered the same test unless doctors have good reason to suspect prostate disease.

Sir Chris said he hoped to see this change. “Maybe people hearing about my story and then asking their GP (for a test) will create enough interest that the people making the decision will take care of it.”

“In the long run, from a logical standpoint, this could potentially save millions of lives.”