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JOE'S CANCER BATTLE
Tiger King’s Joe Exotic told cancer may have spread to his pelvis and stomach as reality star says he’s ‘ready to die’
TIGER King’s Joe Exotic has been told his cancer may have spread to his pelvis and stomach.
The Netflix star, 58, claims he has not had any treatment despite his devastating prostate cancer diagnosis months ago, as he languishes in jail.
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Doctors now fear his cancer has spread – but Exotic says that he will refuse medical help and die if the disease progresses to stage three or four.
He complained: “I have been waiting for a colonoscopy and endoscopy since October. Medical treatment in a prison is worse than at any humane society for dogs.”
Exotic, who is jailed in Fort Worth, Texas, revealed in May that he was suffering from prostate cancer and says he has not had any treatment since then.
He was locked-up after being found guilty of taking part in a murder-for-hire plot against fellow star .
He was also convicted of 17 federal charges of animal abuse such as killing tigers to make room for more big cats at his exotic animal park.
If it's stage three or four I am going to let it take me.
Joe Exotic
Now he says prison medics fear his cancer is progressing, forcing him to undergo a CT scan last week to try to identify the problem.
He said: “They are concerned it is in my stomach and pelvis. I have not had any treatment or anything since May. I puke when I pee - the pain is that bad.
“I’m losing weight all the time and the pain in my hip and pelvis hurts. I limp to walk. And my stomach has hurt for over a year.”
Exotic hopes to be taken to a specialist medical centre for “many tests”, including a “biopsy of my prostate and bladder, colonoscopy and endoscopy”.
He added: “When we find out where and how bad it is I will decide if I am going to do treatment. If it's stage three or four I am going to let it take me.”
His shocking admission comes after he accused prison doctors of "not giving a s**t".
He told The Sun: "This is crazy how they put people in here and just let you die.
"The things that I’ve seen and the dead people I’ve seen wheeled out of here is outrageous and it’s time that our president and our politicians hear the truth.”
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Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, has always maintained his innocence and Team Tiger, a group of lawyers and supporters, has been working behind the scenes for his release.
And following the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit decision to upheld the reality star's conviction, he is now due to be resentenced.
His lawyer for the appeal, Brandon Sample said: ''I knew when I agreed to represent Joe that an appeal would be difficult but I also knew that the law was on Joe’s side.''
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