Johnny Ruffo shares promising health update on Dancing with the Stars

Johnny Ruffo has shared a promising health update with fans during his recent guest appearance on the season finale of Dancing with the Stars: All Stars.

Taking to the stage on Sunday night, April 3, the former Home and Away star told fans “everything was great” despite his gruelling long-term battle with brain cancer.

“Great news, the tumour in the right frontal lobe and the brain stem is all stable, everything is great,” Ruffo told fans during the Sunday night segment.

 

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Ruffo was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017 when what he believed to be a migraine turned out to be a brain tumour.

On Sunday night, Ruffo revealed that the surgery he underwent after the initial diagnosis was quite literally a life or death situation.

“They said there’s a 20 per cent chance I might die from the operation, but if I didn’t have the operation there was a 100 per cent chance I’d die,” Ruffo said.

“So, it’s not really much of a choice. I did have to have it.”

In November 2021, Ruffo revealed to the world that his brain cancer had returned after suffering an “unexpected week of seizures and excruciating headaches”.

 

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Despite this, the Australian singer and actor has battled on, inspiring fans every step of the way.

On Sunday night’s appearance, Ruffo went on to express his excitement upon being back on stage, admitting he was eager to be back dancing after having previously won Dancing with the Stars in 2012, alongside dance partner Luda Kroitor.

“And now I’m lucky enough to have been invited back as a special guest on Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars,” Ruffo said.

“I’m really glad to be back performing, I just want to dance again.”

Ruffo and dancing partner, Masha Belash, went on to perform their gangster-inspired routine Business of Love, for which the duo received a standing ovation from all four judges and the entire Dancing with the Stars audience.

In the post-performance interview, host Daryl Somers praised Ruffo for his return despite his ordeal.

“What was it like for you, because we know you’ve been through a hell of a lot, and for you to actually make it onto the dance floor to do another performance is a great credit to you,” said Somers.

Ruffo, optimistic as ever, admitted the performance was worth it despite what must have been weeks of hard work.

“I forgot how hard it was, but I also remember how fun it was,” he said.