Olympic cycling great Sir Chris Hoy has announced his diagnosis of terminal cancer.

According to doctors, the six-time Olympic gold medallist has between two to four years to live, having discovered a tumour in his shoulder.

Hoy told the Sunday Times that a secondary scan found that the cancer had spread from his prostate to bones. He was later informed his tumours were at stage 4.

READ MORE: ‘No excuses’: Tszyu’s emotional reaction to shock loss

READ MORE: ‘Everyone saw’: Shock draw leaves star fuming

READ MORE: Suaalii promises ‘great impact’ in ‘golden’ rugby era

The 48-year-old said he has been living with the cancer diagnosis for a year but has since been informed the disease was terminal.

“And just like that, I learn how I will die,” he told the Sunday Times.

“As unnatural as it feels this is nature.

“You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process.

“You remind yourself, aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible.”

Hoy’s cancer was discovered in a scan for a possible shoulder strain, an injury he believed he had suffered at the gym as he was “getting a bit old for lifting heavy weights”

The 11-time world champion was with wife Sarra and his two children, Callum and Chloe, when he was given the terminal diagnosis.

Hoy, who has been undergoing chemotherapy, revealed he had suffered a bad allergic reaction to the treatment in round two which caused the session to extend from two to four hours.

He has taken the step of having a cold cap in attempt to slow hair loss after his son Callum asked what the side effects of the treatment could be.

Hoy described the treatment as the most painful procedure he has ever endured.

The third most-decorated British Olympian of all time, Hoy said the realisation of having to tell his children of his diagnosis was difficult.

“(The diagnosis) came as a huge shock, having had no symptoms up to that point,” he said.

“I’m not trying to pretend that every day is amazing.

“But I have genuine moments of joy… I’m back to my old self.

“The last few months have been incredibly difficult. However, I currently feel fine.”

In his memoir, set to be published in November, Hoy detailed the life changing conversation he had with doctors.

“(You are told) one sentence that some person you’ve never met before has just told you.. and in the space of one sentence, just a collection of words, your whole world has fallen apart,” he wrote.

The Team GB great went on to reveal his wife had been diagnosed with “very active and aggressive” type of multiple sclerosis late last year.

Hoy won his first gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, before claiming three more golds in Beijing 2008, and a further two in London, 2012.

At the Beijing Olympic Games he was named as the flag bearer for the closing ceremony for Team GB. His success was again honoured in London 2012, where he led the host team out in the opening ceremony.

Hoy also has a stadium named after him in Glasgow, which was used for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.