Olympic Gold Medalist Chris Hoy Reveals Terminal Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic track cycling gold medalist for Great Britain, has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

The 48-year-old retired cyclist’s health concerns started in 2023 when he believed he strained his shoulder while lifting weights. A scan later revealed a tumor, and he learned he had primary cancer in his prostate that had metastasized to his bones. Tumors had developed in Hoy’s shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and ribs.

Hoy’s cancer is stage 4, and he is currently receiving treatment to manage the disease. He was told he has two to four years to live. Approximately 90% of men who die from prostate cancer will have evidence of bone metastasis.

Reasons advanced prostate cancer metastasizes to the bone are still unknown. This is an area of active research called osteotropism, according to Conor Lynch, PhD, chair of the Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Department at Moffitt Cancer Center.

Conor Lynch, PhD

“Men won’t die from primary prostate cancer but unfortunately do from metastatic secondary prostate cancer. Thus, if we can block this step, we can save a lot of patients,” Lynch said. “However, defining the treatment window to block metastasis is another challenge.” 

There are many new therapies on the horizon for treating prostate cancer. Unfortunately, therapies that focus on activating the immune system have not yet worked well for metastatic prostate cancer. But that is starting to change with chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) based cellular therapies. For example, a phase 1 clinical trial at Moffitt has shown that a special kind of immune cell called a gamma delta T cell can be engineered to find and destroy prostate cancer in the bone.

“What’s neat about this approach is that the cancer-specific gamma delta T cells recognize phosphoantigens, which are small molecules that active immune cells that are generated via the metabolism of drugs used to treat bone conditions called bisphosphonates,” Lynch explained. “Since men with prostate bone metastases often get bisphosphonates to protect their skeleton, it’s like a built-in way to enhance the success of the gamma delta CAR T cells when they are given.”

What are the symptoms of metastatic prostate cancer?

Common symptoms of bone metastasis can be any bone pain or tenderness, even if it comes and goes. A patient with a history of primary prostate cancer should talk to their physician if they feel bone pain, as early detection is critical to prolonged survival and a better quality of life. There are many approved treatment strategies available to treat bone metastatic disease.

Hoy is one of Britain’s most celebrated athletes after winning 11 world championship gold medals and six Olympic golds in his cycling career. Days after he revealed his diagnosis, England’s National Health Service saw a nearly 700% increase in visits to their website about prostate cancer symptoms.

“Men, in my opinion, are often terrible at communication when it comes to talking about our sexual health and well-being. We need to get better at educating each other on the symptoms of prostate cancer,” Lynch said. “Understanding your family history and early signs, including frequent urination, pain when urinating, blood in the urine or discomfort when sitting and acting on it by telling your physician can literally save your life.”