Wrestler Bret 'The Hitman' Hart Battling Prostate Cancer: WWE Legend Reveals News on Instagram

WWE legend Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart has announced on Instagram that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The wrestler, who has been described as one of the biggest stars in wrestling history, shared a photo of himself and his grandchildren on Monday. Hart announced he will have surgery soon and hopes to beat cancer.

Hart announced his prostate cancer battle in a lengthy post on Instagram.

 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

Hart is considered one of the best performers in wrestling history. The Hitman is a 7-time world champion, winning the WWF Championship 5 times and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice.

Thank you @maylam604 for showing me this photo from In Your House: Canadian Stampede. Everyday is a good day to think of the never ending love and appreciation of my parents. A photo posted by Bret (@brethitmanhart) on Sep 8, 2015 at 8:09am PDT

Hart hails from a wrestling family from Canada. His father, Stu Hart, wrestled professionally before becoming a trainer.

Bret's brother, Owen Hart, was a professional wrestler until his tragic death in 1999. Owen fell from equipment when he was being lowered into the ring from the ceiling of Kemper Arena in Kansas City.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving from the Harts ❤️ A photo posted by Bret (@brethitmanhart) on Oct 12, 2015 at 8:02pm PDT

This is Hart's second major medical problem since leaving his wrestling career. He suffered a stroke in 2002 when he fell from his bike and hit his head. The stroke left him paralyzed on the left side his body. Over time, his health improved, but it was obvious he wasn't back to his old self when he returned to WWE in 2010.

In his Instagram post, Hart states, "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."