Annette Sharp: Media maverick John Hartigan has surgery for prostate cancer

John Hartigan is recovering following cancer surgery, and the active retired media executive is finding ‘sitting on his arse’ while recuperating very hard work.

He’s been doing battle with cancer, one way or another, for years and now retired media boss John Hartigan has undergone surgery in the hope of arresting the disease that stalked and claimed his spirited first and second wives.

The former Prime Media and News Corp chairman on Friday confirmed his recent prostate cancer diagnosis.

Former News Corp chairman John Hartigan. Picture: Jane Dempster

It comes almost five years after the death of Hartigan’s second wife, star sports writer Rebecca Wilson, to breast cancer and almost three years after the death of his first wife, journalist Gerri Sutton Hartigan, from whom he was divorced, to liver cancer, both gruelling battles.

Hartigan, one of Sydney’s most charming and envied corporate chieftains for many decades, underwent surgery at St Vincent’s Private Hospital six weeks ago to have his prostate removed.

“I’m recuperating from surgery. I had what’s called a radical prostatectomy, which in layman’s terms is the removal of my prostate. It’s an issue not unknown to older folk like myself.

“The prostate was cancerous, and thanks to the wonders of robotic surgery there is confidence I will, and am, making a full recovery.”

Hartigan revealed the cancer was detected during a routine blood test: “Note to self and all senior males — get regular blood tests!”

The 73-year-old is now recovering at his farm at Wollombi in the Lower Hunter where he lives with his third wife, mother of two and corporate spin doctor Miche Paterson, who he married last year in a small ceremony at Paddington restaurant Cipri.

Hartigan — fit, tanned, and for almost five decades the George Hamilton of Australian media — sounded upbeat despite admitting he was finding the recovery “very frustrating”.

“The key to a full recovery is to lead a sedentary lifestyle — not easy on a small farm when there (are) always a multitude of things to do,” he said, psyching himself into “sitting on his arse to achieve full health”.

“It’s very frustrating but certainly not a hardship given what others with medical conditions have to endure.”

Hartigan retired from corporate life two years ago when he stood down from Prime Media after five years as chairman.