Simonyan Reveals Cancer Battle and Treatment Details

Margarita Simonyan has candidly shared details of her serious illness and described the treatment she is undergoing under specialists« supervision. The journalist is now preparing to release an autobiographical book about her life with Tigran Keosayan, work on which had to be paused due to complications from radiation therapy. Despite everything, she completed the project, which she considers the work of her life.

The TV presenter recalls that the idea of writing an autobiographical novel came to her at the end of 2025. The creative process captivated her so much that she threw herself into the work entirely. However, a sharp deterioration in her health prevented her from finishing the manuscript on time: Simonyan had to urgently interrupt her work for a course of radiation therapy.

— All of January was radiation therapy and I couldn«t care less about anything else. And in February the side effect began — radiation dermatitis. That»s worse than chemotherapy. I couldn«t say »mama,« let alone write — Simonyan told the publication 7 Dney. — Only at the end of February did I return to the text and over the spring I finished the book.

Radiation dermatitis is an inflammatory skin lesion that occurs as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation. It most often develops in patients as a side effect of radiation therapy in the treatment of malignant tumors, occurring in roughly 95% of those undergoing such a course. The main symptoms are redness of the skin and a burning sensation, dryness, severe itching and peeling, swelling and discoloration of the skin. In severe cases — blisters, painful cracks, poorly healing ulcers. In the long term — skin atrophy, increased dryness and a risk of developing new growths.

Only toward the end of February did the severe pain begin to subside. As soon as her condition stabilized somewhat, Simonyan returned to the manuscript and over the spring months completed the book in full.

The widow has firmly refused to speak of Tigran Keosayan in the past tense: for her, he is still mentally by her side.

In memory of her husband, Simonyan created a special named award, the Tigran Keosayan Prize. A cash prize of one million rubles (about $12,700) goes to ordinary people for real heroic deeds and feats. Announcing the next recipient, Margarita always says the same phrase: «Tigran and I decided…»

Margarita understands perfectly well that she simply cannot give up and surrender now, because she has remained the main support for the entire large family. Three minor children, Tigran Keosayan«s elderly mother and her own relatives — they all now need care, warmth and support.

Director and TV presenter Tigran Keosayan died in the autumn of 2025 at the age of 59. This happened after, in January 2025, against the backdrop of severe heart disease and pneumonia, he suffered clinical death and spent nine months in a coma from which he never emerged.