MY CANCER SCARE BY GROUND FORCE TOMMY

TV's Ground Force star Tommy Walsh last night told how he feared for his life after finding lumps in his chest.

The star of the hit BBC gardening show believed he may have contracted breast cancer after his mother and sister both battled the disease.

Tommy, 46, was given the all-clear after the lumps were removed in an operation and doctors said they were benign.

Latest statistics show there are about 250 cases of male breast cancer each year in Britain, and around 100 men die of the disease.

Tommy, who also starred in the ITV1 slimming show Celebrity Fit Club, said: "Because the lumps were in my chest you could feel them under the surface. There was a danger because breast cancer is not just something women get... and it's very much on the increase.""

Tommy told of his scare as his 77-year-old mum recovered from surgery to remove a breast tumour. "She's fine now. She's got the all- clear too," he said.

The 6ft-plus star, who underwent surgery earlier this year, added: "I think showbusiness is a stressful industry. Although you don't appear to be suffering from it, it's something that can happen internally."

Tommy used to weigh in at 20 stone, but slimmed down to 171/2 stone for Celebrity Fit Club. Eight weeks later he has kept the weight off.

He still does 150 sit-ups and 40 press-ups a day and believes he needs to lose another half stone to reach his ideal weight.

Tommy, who lives in Hackney, East London, with his wife Maria and their three children, has just finished making a new TV series called Tommy Walsh's DIY Academy.

He got his first taste of fame in Ground Force with Charlie Dimmock and Alan Titchmarsh and has also starred in his own satellite show, Challenge Tommy Walsh.

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