According to figures from NHS England, visits to the website for prostate cancer symptoms advice rose by 672 per cent following Sir Chris Hoy's announcement that he has terminal cancer.

In the  48 hours after he revealed his cancer was incurable, there were 14,478 visits to the page on prostate cancer symptoms. This is nearly 8 times more than over the same period the week before.

NHS England points out the symptoms of prostate cancer include needing to pee more frequently; needing to rush to the toilet; difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy); and straining or taking a long time while peeing.

NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer Professor Peter Johnson said: “We’re very sorry to hear about Chris’s prognosis, but his decision to speak so openly about it could save lives by encouraging people to come forward sooner with their symptoms.

“Thanks to his bravery, we have seen a significant spike in people accessing vital information on our website about the signs and symptoms of cancer.

“1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime and detecting the disease early gives the best chance of successful treatment.

“So, I would urge anyone who’s noticed unusual or worrying symptoms to please contact their GP practice”.

Secretary of state for health and social care Wes Streeting said: “I am in awe of Chris’ courage. He’s done the country such an enormous service by being as open and as positive as he has been.

“From my own experience with cancer, I know how crucial it is to catch it as early as possible, so it is truly encouraging to see more people educating themselves about the symptoms of this awful disease.

“We are investing in research to find better ways of testing for prostate cancer, so that we can give people the best chances of survival”.