Six-time Olympic gold medalist Chris Hoy has seen some of the highest highs an athlete can hope for in their life, but he's also experienced some of the hardest lows. In February, the British cyclist revealed he'd been diagnosed with cancer last year, and while at the time he reassured followers he was undergoing treatment, it turns out his condition won't be improving.
In a new interview with The Sunday Times, Hoy confirmed that his cancer is terminal. It all started last September when he thought he'd strained his shoulder but it turned out to be much more serious.
"'I’m really sorry,'" the doctor told him. "'There’s a tumor in your shoulder.'" Another scan days later found primary cancer in his prostate that had metastasized to his bones, leaving tumors in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine, and rib. The doctor told him it was stage 4 and incurable.
Hoy recounts the experience in his new memoir All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet. "And just like that, I learn how I will die," he wrote, per The Sunday Times. He asked the doctor the million-dollar question—"How long do I have?"—and learned he has two to four years to live.
The memoir opens with the heartbreaking anecdote of him learning his fate. Hoy said this unflinching portrait is the best way to reach people who might be going through something similar.
"I think it’s important to show how bad it was," he said. "There’s so much positivity that can come out of this from all angles. I’m just really excited that this book hopefully will be able to help people."
Now, all Hoy can do is keep his head up and enjoy every minute he still has with his family.
"I’ve learned to live in the moment, and I have days of genuine joy and happiness," he said. "It’s absolutely not denial or self-delusion. It’s about trying to recognize, what do we have control over?'"
"The fear and anxiety, it all comes from trying to predict the future. But the future is this abstract concept in our minds. None of us know what’s going to happen. The one thing we know is we’ve got a finite time on the planet," he continued. "So what I’ve come around to thinking is, why spoil that time? Crack on and enjoy and be grateful for what you do have. I’m not saying that I’m a Zen master and I’ve controlled my thoughts and my emotions in every situation. I’m not trying to pretend that every day is amazing. But I have genuine moments of joy. I have laughter. I’m not thinking about it all the time. I’m back to my old self.”
Hours after his diagnosis went public, Hoy was living as if nothing had happened, working with the BBC sports team to cover the World Track Cycling Championships in Copenhagen. He assuaged fans' worries about the news on Instagram.
"You may see in the news this weekend some articles about my health, so I just wanted to reassure you all that I’m feeling fit, strong and positive, and overwhelmed by all the love and support shown to my family and me," he wrote. "Onwards!"
All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet is out Nov. 7.
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