Former X-Factor Australia star Johnny Ruffo reveals devastating reality of living with brain cancer

Australian singer-songwriter Johnny Ruffo has revealed his greatest fear as he battles terminal cancer.

The former Home and Away actor and X-Factor Australia star has been battling brain cancer since 2017, but Ruffo knows that one day his tumours are likely to be the end of him.

Sitting down with The Project's Carrie Bickmore, who lost her late husband to brain cancer, he revealed his greatest fear isn’t actually dying.

Ruffo, 34, wonders how his partner Tahnee Sims will cope after he dies.

"What plays in my head a lot is, I hate to say this, how hard it may be for her if something does happen to me," he told The Project host.

The 2011 X Factor Australia finalist said that he tries to avoid thinking about the future and what it holds for himself and Tahnee, who he calls his 'rock'.

"You can only imagine how difficult it's been for her," he told Bickmore. 

"So, it's something that I don't want to think about. It just gets me a little bit emotional about it because I know at some point something will happen, whether it's, you know, a month from now or 10 years from now or 20 years." 

Doctors originally told Ruffo that he had only three years to live.

It's now been five years since his original diagnosis and the Dancing with the Stars alum reckons he has already won.

Ruffo did admit that he knows the end is coming.

"At some point it will get me but I'm still fighting. Still kicking on. Looking up my diagnosis and my tumour, the average life expectancy was three years," he said on The Project.

"For me it's now been five years. I'm already winning. My goal now is to try and help as many people as I can and also live a happy life."

Ruffo announced in November 2021 that his cancer returned, sharing the heartbreaking news with his fans on social media.

"After an unexpected week of seizures and excruciating headaches it is with a heavy heart that I have to let you know I now have another huge battle ahead of me as my brain cancer has returned," he wrote.

"Though I will dig deep and beat this s**t disease again."

Bickmore, who now founded Carrie's Beanies for Brain Cancer to raise funds for research after her husband's death, shared her support with Ruffo at the time.

"Oh Johnny.... Sending so much love. Kick it’s a**," she said.