John Blackman reveals long road to recovery after cancer
After a marathon surgery to remove his jaw due to skin cancer, Hey Hey It’s Saturday star John Blackman has revealed what it took to get him on the road to recovery but how COVID has held him back.
Fiona Byrne
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Hey Hey It’s Saturday favourite John Blackman has opened up on his long road to recovery after undergoing marathon surgery two years ago to remove his jaw owing to aggressive skin cancer.
Blackman has undergone several significant surgeries and procedures since his initial 12-hour operation in August 2018 to rebuild his jaw using bone taken from his leg.
“My most recent surgery in May involved my very talented and amazing facial reconstructive surgeon Mr Frank Raiola harvesting tissue from both my cheeks to form a bottom lip over my skin graft, which was (not-unexpectedly) shrinking,” Blackman said.
“This has totally changed the person I see in the mirror each morning but, if there is an upside to the current coronavirus pandemic, it has allowed me to wear a face mask without being self conscious about my ‘new’ look.”
Blackman said the next step in the reconstruction had been delayed due to the ban on elective dental surgery.
“My new (dental) implants will have to wait until October or November.
“I’m still drinking all liquids through a straw — including alcohol, which I find gets you very tipsy, very quickly. The upside? I’ve started drinking less.”
Blackman is maintaining his trademark positivity and quick wit and is dealing with every twist in his recovery with good humour. His thanks for the love and support of his wife Cecile and daughter Tiffany is profound.
“Approaching the second anniversary of my 12-hour operation at the end of August, recovery has had many ups and downs, but mainly ups due to the love and nurturing of Cecile and Tiffany, and all the support from friends and many showbiz buddies,” he said.
“Above all, I am very optimistic that this very bad dream will eventually come to an end so I can smile — and bite into a steak again — and resume my corporate and voiceover career.
“But I always count my blessings knowing there’s always somebody else going through a much tougher time than just losing all their fangs.”