Russell Watson almost died before brain tumour was pulled out through lip
As a famed classical singer whose impressive career has seen him perform before members of the Royal family, Russell Watson, who will tonight be appearing on Britain Get Singing, has led a truly fascinating life.
It hasn't all been smooth sailing for the BRIT-award-winning tenor, however, and he's previously spoken about surviving two brain tumours, including one which had to be pulled out through his lip. The 57-year-old was flying high in his career when, in 2006, he began experiencing horrific headaches.
At first, doctors attributed the agonising pain Russell was suffering to stress, but it soon became clear something more was going on. Speaking previously with the Mirror, Russell said: "I was getting excruciating headaches and my left eye swelled so much it looked like I'd gone a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson. The pain on the bridge of my left nostril felt like someone had stuck a knife in it."
Doctors initially attributed Russell's 'excruciating headaches' to stress (Getty Images)
Russell was left feeling 'grateful to be alive' (Getty Images)Salford-born Russell decided to take action while out in Los Angeles to record a new album, after realising he couldn't see the ball while playing tennis. A neurologist quickly diagnosed him with a pituitary adenoma brain tumour the size of two golf balls. Although benign, Russell was told that the three-hour operation required to remove it would come with grave risks - including potential blindness or even death.
Thankfully, the surgery was a success, and surgeons were able to remove the tumour through his nose. Russell recalled: "The tumour left a big hole in my head, which had to be filled with cotton wool. I looked like an alien. But I was just grateful to be alive."Just one year later, however, Russell went to bed one night and was unable to wake up, after which point he can't remember much. Thinking back to that terrifying time, Russell shared: "I just recall being hiked down the stairs by two paramedics who were telling me, 'Stay with us pal'."
Russell Watson says new life on farm gave him 'peace' after cancer battle
To his great dismay, Russell's tumour had regrown and haemorrhaged in four places. Describing the discovery as his 'worst nightmare', Russell recalled: "The tumour was close to bursting and was pressing on my optic nerve, meaning I could go blind." Russell was informed that he would require immediate surgery as a matter of urgency, however, he begged doctors to allow him to see daughters Hannah and Rebecca before he went into theatre, as he was 'convinced' that he 'wouldn't pull through'.
Russell and his family have since moved to a beautiful Cheshire farmhouse (MDM)Fortunately, the surgery was a success once again, and surgeons were able to extract the tumour through Russell's lip. What followed was a difficult road ahead, however, with Russell having to undergo radiotherapy treatment as well as daily hormone injections to address the at times suicidal mood swings he suffered due to his damaged pituitary gland.
In a more recent interview with the Mirror back in May, Russell reflected on how his ordeal had impacted his outlook on life and bond with his family in the years since, remarking that his diagnosis 'fundamentally changed everything'. Russell, who has since moved to a gorgeous 15-acre farm in Cheshire, continued: "Even today, I will walk out onto the farm in the morning and think, how on earth did I get here, from the back streets of Salford? I feel incredibly grateful for how I survived everything to still be here today. That feeling is compounded by what I went through with my illness. When I first got the news of my tumour I just thought, 'Well, I've had it. That's it, it's all over'. All I could think about was how my wife and daughters would manage without me."
Whatever people living with cancer need to ask about cancer, work, money or life. The big things and the small stuff. Macmillan is at the end of the phone and online to provide support. Call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk and ask anything.
You can catch Russell Watson on ITV's Britain Get Singing at 9pm, December 24.
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