“I Need to Learn How to Breathe Again”: Katsia Pytleva Announces Cancer Has Returned

Reform.news Editorial Team · 9 November 2026, 20:58

https://reform.news/en/i-need-to-learn-how-to-breathe-again-katsia-pytleva-announces-cancer-has-returned/

Belarusian journalist, television presenter and cultural figure Katsia Pytleva has shared difficult news on her social media: after three years in remission, she is facing cancer again. Medical tests have revealed metastases in her spine.

Pytleva said that the month and a half spent waiting for the results after the first suspicions had been “hell”. However, now that the situation has become clearer, she feels a certain sense of relief.

The journalist felt it was important to share some technical details for people who are in remission. After experiencing unusual symptoms, she asked for a blood test for tumour markers, specifically CA 15-3. The result was elevated. This prompted further CT and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which revealed metastases in her spine and bone.

“I’m writing all this to help myself come to terms with the reality of what is happening. Now I’m waiting for a call from the doctor to understand what to do about all this. That’s where things stand. I don’t need any help for now. I feel as usual, and there are no serious symptoms at the moment. I just need to somehow learn to breathe again,” she wrote.

Pytleva has previously spoken openly about her battle with cancer. In the summer of 2022, she announced her first diagnosis of breast cancer. For several years, she underwent difficult treatment while in exile and became one of the voices openly challenging the taboo surrounding the disease. Together with other Belarusian women, she worked on open projects and documentaries about the experiences of women in remission, including “Katia and Katia: Cancer, Remission and Women’s Stories”, helping hundreds of others cope with shock and anxiety. She subsequently remained in remission for three years.