Viktoria Bolonina: Opera singer reveals battle with stage 4 brain cancer

Opera sensation Viktoria Bolonina has revealed her stage four brain cancer diagnosis and the inspiration behind her determination to fight and get back on stage.

Australian opera sensation Viktoria Bolonina has revealed her battle with stage 4 brain cancer.

The Mt Colah mum, one of Central Coast Opera’s principal artists and a previous finalist on The Voice Australia, spoke to the Express regarding her recent disappearance from the stage due to her diagnosis.

Mrs Bolonina said a tumour “the size of an orange” was found on her brain earlier this year requiring urgent surgery which went ahead in April.

“Thankfully it was successful,” she said.

“But there are cells left behind, it’s not just something that can be completely removed.”

Mrs Bolonina shares an image of herself after surgery to remove a brain tumour in April.

Further investigations revealed the tumour is grade 4 malignant with Mrs Bolonina now preparing for chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“At this stage we are waiting for a result to determine if we can do the radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the same time or separately,” she said.

Mrs Bolonina is a new mum to one year old daughter Milana who she calls her “inspiration”.

“She’s just amazing. She’s my inspiration and the reason why I want to fight this,” she said.

“I have a chance of beating this because of her.”

Viktoria Bolonina says her one year old daughter is her inspiration to fight.

The mezzo-soprano and contemporary singer said the past few years had been hectic with Covid lockdowns, becoming a new mum and getting back on stage.

“It’s been one thing after another and I was back on stage with more gigs coming and then boom this happened,” she said.

She said while it was the shock of her life, she knows no one is immune to cancer.

“Nobody is too special not to get something like this,” she said.

“I have this and now I just have to deal with it. I can’t complain or say ‘why me?’

“Survival rates are high and my age is an advantage.”

Support from family and the music industry has also been “incredible” to Mrs Bolonina.

Mrs Bolonina was part of Team Delta during her time on The Voice Australia.

Mrs Bolonina has released her own music and performed throughout Australia and internationally – including Christmas Carols in Melbourne and Carols in the Domain as part of the Young Stars of Australian Opera.

“I didn’t expect it at all, the only thing is I have to get back to a lot of people now,” she laughed.

“But I have time. There’s been so much love.”

Mrs Bolonina said she initially noticed something odd happening to her in 2018 when she was performing and felt unusually nervous and having hallucinations and panic attacks.

“I am usually quite calm before I perform,” she said.

It reached a point last year where headaches were unbearable and her body would spin to the left due to the tumour being on the right side of her body.

“The doctors said the tumour has been growing slowly for 10 years,” she said.

“The recovery from surgery has been quite good and fast. My mum is one of the most motivating and energetic people you will ever meet and she’s been forcing me out and about every day going for long walks.”

Mrs Bolonina says she is lucky to have a “fortress” of family and friends for support.

Mrs Bolonina said she was lucky to have “a fortress” of supporting family and friends.

Two of her friends Sophia Luperdi and Katrina Mottram have started a GoFundMe page to help with ongoing medical costs which have hit the Bolonina’s hard after losing one income.

“We’d love to see her comfortable, relaxed and enjoying her time with her daughter and family,” the GoFundMe message read.

“Any donation no matter how small will help alleviate things for our lovely Vicky. Thank you for sparing a thought and gift. She is an inspiration to all of us.”