Sir Chris Hoy has admitted that prostate cancer was 'not on our radar' during his career as he gave an update on his terminal illness.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist was first diagnosed with cancer in September last year after a tumour was discovered on his shoulder. However, he announced two months ago that his condition was terminal, with a scan finding primary cancer in his prostate, which had metastasised to his bones.

Having been given between two and four years to live, Hoy is undergoing treatment and remains hopeful that he can defy his doctors' prognosis. In the meantime, he has worked to raise awareness of the disease, among men, a move which has had already had a huge impact around the country.

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Prostate Cancer UK revealed that the 48-year-old's announcement in October had led to nearly 300,000 men carrying out an online check, finding over 75% of them at risk due to factors like family history. Appearing on BBC Breakfast last week, Hoy himself admitted that during his career he had not considered he would be at risk from cancer despite both his father and grandfather facing the disease.

"I think you were very aware of your physical fitness," he said. "You were very aware of your performance on the bike and the data behind that and how you felt in terms of recovery from training sessions or races but actually it wasn’t something we talked about - not because there was a stigma attached to it necessarily but just because it probably wasn’t on our radar."

"When you are young, fit and healthy you assume you are immune to any of that," he added. "You think that is for further down the line. When you are 50, that is when you starting thinking about prostate cancer and checking. Even with family history, I had my grandpa and my dad, but actually I should have been thinking about it sooner."

Hoy is now an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK's The Bigger 180 campaign at the World Darts Championship, with the initiative aiming to raise awareness of the disease by encouraging men to take a 30-second risk checker. The campaign is also donating £1,000 for every 180 scored during the tournament, with a £180,000 bonus for every perfect nine-dart leg.

But the legendary Team GB cyclist has already had a huge impact on the number of men carrying out checks, with Prostate Cancer UK CEO Laura Kerby explaining: "Since Sir Chris has come out with his story, we have seen a significant impact. We have seen almost 300,000 men come through our online checker on the Prostate Cancer UK website.

"Importantly, because I think this is what resonates with Sir Chris’s story, is that we have seen 40,000 men with family history – because it is about making men aware that yes there is a risk of prostate cancer but actually family history is a higher risk – and the fact we have had so many men coming forward in that area – I think is a fact that really resonates.

"Chris is going to be the ambassador of the Paddy Power The Bigger 180 (campaign at the) World Darts championships which is going to try to get to another 180,000 men and raise money for the transform clinical trial," she added. "The reason that is important, you (Sir Chris) will almost have half a million men at that stage that you have encouraged to come forward to take the risk checker and, as a result of that, that will have saved hundreds and thousands of lives."

It comes as Hoy left BBC viewers in tears during his appearance at this year's Sports Personality of the Year Awards ceremony, which was broadcast on Tuesday evening. The Scot was invited to announce the winner of this year's award, but not before he had given a stirring speech in a segment about the Paris Olympics.

In an emotional moment, Hoy took to the stage in Salford and said: "The Olympics and Paralympics are special. Every four long years, it's always the date ringed in the diary.

"Sometimes as an athlete when you draw back the curtains in the morning and you see the frost on the ground, you might question, is it worth leaving your warm bed to head out into the cold and dark to face the inevitable pain of training? 1460 days of pure obsession for a single event. But let me tell you, it's worth it. Paris this summer showed us all it's worth it.

"A sporting party of epic proportions. Thousands of Olympians and Paralympians gave us all at home life's one remaining, truly unfiltered drama over six glorious weeks. Team GB and Paralympics GB crossed the Channel and in their hearts they carried all your hopes and dreams. And whether they took home the gold medal or fell agonisingly short, we were proud of each and every one of them.

"It's what drives us as competitors," he added. "The thought that we have something bigger than ourselves to represent. And what showed more than anything this summer is that the spirit of the games is undimmed, the spirit of our team is undimmed.

"It's now on you all, athletes, coaches, mums, dads, fans - never let this incredible team fade away. Together we've built something truly special. Across the summer games in Paris, we had a team to be proud of so please join me in applauding our Team GB and Paralympics GB heroes!"