Six-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy recently revealed he has terminal prostate cancer.
Amid Hoy’s diagnosis, experts are urging men to keep an eye out for an easy-to-miss sign of prostate cancer that can lead to early detection and life-saving intervention.
The 48-year-old retired cyclist — the second most decorated British Olympian — shared his health update during an interview with the UK Sunday Times published Saturday night.
If prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, or metastasizes, it can become deadly and commonly moves to bones, the lungs, lymph nodes, liver or brain.
In Hoy’s case, the primary cancer in his prostate has metastasized to his bones, with tumors developing in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and ribs.
Situated below the bladder, the prostate gland’s primary function is semen production and ejaculation.
Prostate problems can manifest as urinary symptoms, including an urgent need to pee and/or difficulty starting the steam, weak flow or straining.
In addition to urinary symptoms, the presence of blood in the urine or semen should be addressed with a doctor immediately.
Indicators that advanced prostate cancer has spread include bone and back pain, weight loss, testicular pain and loss of appetite, per the Daily Mail.
Prostate cancer is fueling a cancer epidemic, with 10% of new diagnoses in the U.S. occurring in men under 55, and deaths from prostate cancer are expected to jump 136% from 2022 to 2050.
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of male cancer after skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is not typically fatal — in part because it is usually slow-growing, is often low-grade, and many treatment options are available.
As with all cancers, early detection and early-stage treatment are critical to survival.
Treatment for prostate cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation or targeted drug therapy.
An estimated one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but only one in 39 (or 2.6%) will die from it, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Experts say that while frequent urination could be a cause for concern, frequent ejaculation could be a preventative measure.
A study from Harvard University found that men who ejaculated 21 times per month, either from masturbation or sexual intercourse, were 31% less likely to get prostate cancer than men who only ejaculated four to seven times per month.
Risk factors for prostate cancer include obesity, family history, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, and above-average height, according to the NIH, which also also notes that diets high in saturated fat and milk products may contribute to prostate cancer and may increase the risk of recurrence once diagnosed.
Currently, there is no standard test to screen for prostate cancer.
If symptoms are reported, a physician may draw blood for a prostate-specific antigen test (PSA), which screens for hormone levels that are found in higher amounts if there are issues with the prostate.
