Johnny Ruffo: 'I'm cancer-free and releasing a new song'

It was back in August 2017 when Johnny Ruffo revealed he’d been diagnosed with brain cancer.

Now a year-and-a-half later, the 31-year-old Australian singer and actor says he’s feeling ‘happy and healthier’ as he remains cancer-free.

“I am clear at the moment. I have no cancer at the moment,” he told The Morning Show’s Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies on Thursday morning.

“The only downside is, you have to get regular checkups. Other than that, I am healthy. I am good and happy.”

The former X Factor star said he credits girlfriend Tahnee Sims for his positive outlook and health.

“Without her, I don't think I would be here today,” he confessed. “She is phenomenal.”

Since starring on Home and Away from 2013 to 2016, Johnny hasn’t released any major albums, but getting some new music out there is now on his agenda.

“The new song is a ballad. This the first ballad I have ever done,” he revealed.

The singer said the song is about “the support group around you and not being afraid to ask for help”.

“When you are down, you need someone to reach down and pull you up again,” he explained. “It is kind of about that. It's not just related to my experiences with cancer, everyone goes through things. Whether it is depression... or maybe your parents separating.”

Back in October 2017, Johnny revealed his malignant brain tumour was originally misdiagnosed as depression.

Speaking with The Project’s Carrie Bickmore, he said his GP told him his symptoms resembled that of a mental illness.

“I’d even gone to the doctor, and the doctor said ‘You know, all the symptoms seems like depression,” he said.

It was only after Johnny presented himself to hospital one night after suffering an intense migraine that doctors discovered the tumour.

"After having found the tumor, the neurosurgeon said, 'No, no, it's not depression at all, it was because there was so much pressure being put on your brain, it was causing all these different symptoms'," he said.

He went on to have radiation and chemotherapy.

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