Heartbreaking plea that made ‘heavy smoker’ John Farnham quit

John Farnham was a “major smoker” for many years before his marathon oral cancer surgery - until a heartbreaking plea from a family member.

John Farnham’s longtime friend Derryn Hinch has shared some insight into the Aussie music legend’s life following surgery to remove a tumour in his mouth earlier this week.

Hinch shared that his friend had “smoked too much” for years, also revealing the simple plea from Farnham’s son that made him give up cigarettes.

The legendary Australian singer, 73, underwent 12 hours’ surgery to have a tumour removed at a Melbourne hospital on Tuesday, shortly after being diagnosed with mouth cancer.

Sydney 2GB host Ben Fordham revealed the update on Farnham’s recovery on Thursday morning’s show.

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John Farnham. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Derryn Hinch. Picture: David Caird

“Doctors may have to insert a tube into his windpipe as part of his recovery, he’ll need a feeding tube and he’ll need rehab to help him chew and swallow again, he’ll spend weeks in hospital recovering,” Fordham said on-air.

In an article published on The Big Smoke this week, Hinch opened up about Farnham’s past as a smoker, which can lead to a 10-fold risk for oral cancer compared to nonsmokers.

“For years, John smoked too much. He only stopped when a precious son said, ‘Daddy, I don’t want you to die.’ So, he switched to cigars,” Hinch wrote.

Hinch said he tried to get Farnham to give up completely, using the death of Australia’s first billionaire, Robert Holmes à Court, as a warning.

“I tried to tell him that Robert Holmes à Court only smoked cigars (and didn’t inhale) but died of mouth cancer at 53.”

In fact, heavy smoker Holmes à Court died of a heart attack in 1990 aged 53.

Farnham, seen here performing in 1991, was a “major smoker” for many years.

Entertainment reporter Peter Ford, who has been in contact with Farnham’s family since his admission to hospital, spoke more about the singer’s history as a smoker during an appearance on Sunrise this week.

“This may not be related, but it is part of the backstory: Through the years, John has been a major smoker. He’s not proud of it, but he’s made no secret of it either,” he said.

Ford explained that after switching from cigarettes to cigars, Farnham gave up smoking altogether “some years ago.”

“When he had his last health scare about three-and-a-half years ago, that was a major turning point where he thought, ‘I’ve got to start looking after myself – stop smoking, less booze, eating better’,” he explained.

Farnham, who also had part of his jaw removed during the marathon operation, said in an earlier statement that he was “grateful” to be cared for by Victoria’s healthcare system.

“Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me,” he said in the statement.

“The one thing I know for sure is that we have the very best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria, and we can all be grateful for that. I know I am.”

Originally published as Heartbreaking plea that made ‘heavy smoker’ John Farnham quit