Brave Russell Watson has wowed I’m A Celebrity fans with not only his vocal talents but also with heartbreaking stories about his incredible fight for life.
The legendary opera singer is still living with the devastating effects of two terrifying brain cancer scares.
In 2006 an aggressive tumour was found growing on his pituitary gland before another worrying discovering a few years later.
He has thankfully since won the frightening battles – but 14 years on, the star is still having to make some serious sacrifices.
Russell has to take a daily cocktail of drugs just to stay alive and it doesn’t stop there.
Family man Russell faces a daily battle to remain healthy (Image: RUSSELL WATSON COLLECT.)
“I still have to take specific medication every day, because my body doesn’t naturally produce hormones, so I have to inject them,” the star told Best magazine back in 2018.
“Initially it was a minefield, because I was taking this whole cocktail of drugs to stay alive. It used to get me down.
“I would get very depressed. I’d go to bed at night but wouldn’t be able to get to sleep – I’d panic because I thought I would die if I fell asleep.
“Nowadays, I feel as if each new day is a gift – that’s why I don’t look back anymore.”
In 2018 he opened up about the drugs he has to take just to survive (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
It doesn’t end there – the singing superstar also has to inject himself as he continues his recovery.
The 54-year-old added: “When I wake up in the morning, I have to inject myself, and then after an hour I can get up.
“That’s my routine now, but I’ll never let that illness define me – I’ll never let it beat me.”
Back in 2014, Russell opened up some more.
Fans love him in the castle – and some are tipping him to win (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He told the Mirror four years ago just how much he’s come to rely on the drugs and how it has totally changed his life.
“I wouldn’t last more than 24 hours without my medication,” he said.
“The second one was the ‘one’, the first wasn’t life-threatening, it was painful and I nearly lost my vision.
“The second one was holy s***, I went home, went to bed and didn’t wake up because of a haemorrhage.
“My assistant found me, called the paramedics and I knew I was in trouble because the paramedic kept saying ‘stay with us, stay with us’.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
