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Out In The Open

This concert pianist was diagnosed with cancer in her arm and it almost ended her career

Janina Fialkowska explains what it was like to face the possibility she would never be able to perform again.
Out In The Open ·
Janina Fialkowska performs at Salle Gaveau in Paris, 1969. (Courtesy of Janina Fialkowska)

Janina Fialkowska starting studying piano when she was four-years-old. She debuted as a soloist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at 12 and by 19 she was a star pupil at Juilliard.

Everything was going well for the world-renowned musician until 2002, when she was diagnosed with cancer... in her arm.
Janina Fialkowska (Peter Schaaf)

"Who has ever thought or heard of a concert pianist with cancer in their arm? It's sort of a sick joke."

Janina had to have an operation that resulted in her left arm being temporarily paralyzed, but that didn't stop her from performing. She played several shows with only one hand after her first operation. Soon after, she had a muscle transfer surgery, which resulted in a six-week period when Janina wasn't allowed to move her arm at all. 

"During this time I would wake up at night and think, 'What if I can't play again?'. The thought was so horrible and so like a knife to my heart...I just pushed it out of my mind and just thought I'm going to make it through this and I'm going to play my Chopin again and to hell with fate and whatever, it's going to happen." 

Janina will never forget the day she was allowed to move her arm. Within two weeks, the Romantic repertoire was within her reach again. She continues to tour the world and never forgets how lucky she is to be able to do the thing she loves most and does best.

"When I walk out on stage, every single time now I am so so grateful that I can walk out on stage and play."

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