'Celebrity Big Brother' star Paddy Doherty says he 'considered suicide' over pain of prostate cancer

Paddy Doherty, star of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, has revealed that he’s battling prostate cancer.

The former bare-knuckle boxer added that at times his pain has been so bad that he’s considered taking his own life.

The 60-year-old told The Sun: “I’ve been to hell and back with this and it’s worse than getting a horrendous beating.

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“The pain got so bad that I actually thought about taking my own life on two occasions.

But I just couldn’t do that to my family – and instead I just drank myself into oblivion.

“The only people who have known about this are my wife, my brothers and sister. And it was my wife who suggested I should speak out about the condition – she said it might encourage other men to get themselves checked out.”

Doherty, who won the 2011 series of Celebrity Big Brother, added: “Men don’t talk about these things – especially travellers. But the bottom line is this – I was in a bad way.

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“I started dreading going for a wee because I was having so much trouble passing water. I had to force it out and the pain became excruciating. I wouldn’t inflict it on my worst enemy.

“I’ve had some massive fights down the years but no one inflicted the pain I’ve been going through.

“I would be screaming and my grandchildren could hear me – that is so embarrassing and demeaning for me.”

Doherty is now facing two operations at the Manchester Royal Infirmary to treat the cancer.

“This has definitely been the biggest battle of my life but it’s one ill determined to win,” he said.