Bret Hart Cancer Diagnosis Revealed

Professional wrestling legend Bret Hart revealed Monday that he's battling prostate cancer.

"I've had a great lifelong dance and I'm a survivor of many hard battles. I now face my toughest battle," Hart wrote in an Instagram post.

"In the next few days, I will undergo surgery with the hope of defeating this nemesis once and for all."

Hart, 58, is considered one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all-time. He began his career in Calgary in the '70s as part of a family dynasty. His dad, WWE Hall of Famer Stu Hart, owned and ran Stampede Wrestling, and also trained Bret and his brothers.

Bret "The Hitman" Hart, pictured in the early 1990s. (Photo: Everett Collection/CP)

Bret Hart went on to win several wrestling titles, and in 2004 was voted one of the top Canadians of all time by CBC's "The Greatest Canadian."

He left wrestling after a major concussion in 1999. A few years later, he suffered a stroke that required him to temporarily use a wheelchair.

Along with a photo of him with his grandchildren, Hart wrote on the Instagram post that he's lucky to be supported by his family and his wife Stephanie.

"I hope I can take the fight to prostate cancer. To be a leader in awareness and to set the example for men everywhere who find themselves in my very same shoes, that prostate cancer can be beaten," Hart added.

It is with great remorse that I feel compelled to speak truthfully to my friends, family and my millions of fans around the world. In the past few years, I've spent more than enough time paying the price for all those years trying to be the best there ever was as a professional wrestler. I executed excellently and my proudest claim was that I never seriously hurt or injured another wrestler in my 23 year career. I've paid a price for all that "fake" wrestling ... Mark Helprin wrote: "We are all perfect clocks that Divinity has set to ticking when, even before birth, the heart explodes into a lifelong dance." I've had a great lifelong dance and I'm a survivor of many hard battles. I now face my toughest battle. With hesitation and fear, I openly declare myself in my fight against prostate cancer. In the next few days, I will undergo surgery with the hope of defeating this nemesis once and for all. My fans have always looked upon me as a hero and I've always done my best to live up to that in and out of the ring. I beat the odds when I suffered my stroke in 2002, but it is now yet again, that I ... stand unafraid and face the tough road ahead of me, I will march toward this destiny with his spirit chanting in my ear. I make a solemn vow to all of those that once believed in me, the dead and the living, that I will wage my fearsome fight against cancer with one shield and one sword carrying my determination and my fury for life, emboldened by all the love that's kept me going this long already. Love is my weapon and I've got much of it around me all the time, for which I'm truly blessed and eternally grateful. My children, grandchildren, and my loving wife Steph have been and will constantly be at my side. I refuse to lose, I will never give in or give up, and I will win this battle or die trying. Most important of all, I hope can take the fight to prostate cancer. To be a leader in awareness and to set the example for men everywhere who find themselves in my very same shoes, that prostate cancer can be beaten. B x
A photo posted by Bret (@brethitmanhart) on Feb 1, 2016 at 8:28am PST

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