Blogger Lercek is fighting stage four cancer. What is known

Russian blogger Valeria Chekalina (Lerchek) has been in a serious oncological condition since mid-March 2026. A 33-year-old woman was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer with multiple metastases. The trial in her criminal case has been suspended, and the measure of restraint has been changed from house arrest to a ban on certain actions for medical treatment. All the latest details are in the Izvestia article.

Lercek's condition and treatment

On March 20, Valeria Chekalina's lover, Argentine dancer Luis Squicciarini, spoke about her current treatment. According to him, the blogger is undergoing three types of therapy at once: chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy. The course includes nine procedures with an interval of three weeks.

"My friends and I support her, her family is always there. She's holding on, but it's very hard. Three therapies in parallel is very difficult for a person," Squicciarini told Izvestia.

Doctors assess Lercek's condition as moderate. She uses a wheelchair. The blogger was diagnosed with multiple metastases — in the spine (two broken vertebrae were recorded), in the bones of the skull, in the lungs, as well as a tumor in the brain and damage to the brain membrane. She began chemotherapy on March 14 and radiation therapy on March 16.

Lercek's appeal to the UK

Lercek appealed to the head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, with a demand to check the actions of the investigator who conducted her criminal case at the preliminary investigation stage. According to the blogger, during her stay under house arrest (since October 2024), investigators repeatedly refused to allow her to visit doctors, although she complained of severe abdominal pain and later leg pain. In total, as stated in the application, more than ten petitions for permission to visit a doctor were submitted.

The position of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the refutation of Lercek's words

In response to the blogger's statement, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow issued an official denial. The department stated that during the preliminary investigation, Chekalina and her defenders were not prohibited from visiting state medical institutions — all relevant petitions were granted. Refusals were issued only twice — when the blogger wanted to visit private commercial clinics. The Interior Ministry stressed that Lercek's statement about a complete ban on visiting doctors is "far from reality."

Repayment of the tax debt and court decisions

As of March 20, Valeria Chekalina's tax debt to the state has been fully repaid. An anonymous benefactor transferred more than 175 million rubles to close the debt on her sole proprietor.

On March 16, the Gagarin District Court of Moscow suspended proceedings in the blogger's criminal case (on the withdrawal of more than 250 million rubles to the UAE) due to a serious health condition. The measure of restraint has been changed from house arrest to a ban on certain actions. Lercek is allowed to use the Internet only to visit medical and educational websites, as well as court pages. Consideration of the Federal Tax Service's bankruptcy petition has been postponed until March 31.

IVF Lurcher and possible connection with oncology

The media also discusses the possible connection of Lercek's disease with multiple IVF procedures. The blogger's path to motherhood was long: due to hormonal failure in 2015, she and her ex-husband Artem Chekalin underwent long-term treatment. Twins Alice and Bogdan (2016) and son Lev (2022) were born thanks to IVF. Fourth son (by Luis Squicciarini) Lercek gave birth on February 26, 2026 — it was after these deliveries that histology of the placenta showed the presence of malignant cells.

Doctors interviewed by the media note that there is no direct evidence linking IVF with the development of cancer. However, they agree that pregnancy and hormonal stimulation can stimulate the growth of an existing tumor in the body.

The position of Lercek herself

In a video posted by his lover (recorded in 2025), the blogger addresses the investigators in tears, complaining of unbearable pain and indifference. She recalls the operations she underwent and the numerous IVF procedures, calling on law enforcement officers to be humane. In her first appeal after being released from house arrest, Lercek confirmed that the diagnosis of stage four stomach cancer was true, but stated that she intended to live and fight.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.