Part of John Farnham’s jaw removed in surgery to remove cancerous mouth tumour
Details have emerged of John Farnham’s 12-hour surgery, during which a cancerous tumour was removed from the singer’s mouth.
Beloved pop singer John Farnham was recovering in intensive care on Wednesday after undergoing a lengthy operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his mouth, which reportedly involved removing part of his jaw.
“John has been through an eleven-and-a-half-hour surgery in Melbourne yesterday and is now in a stable condition in ICU. The cancerous tumour was located in his mouth and it has been successfully removed. There is still a long road of recovery and healing ahead of us, but we know John is up for that task,” said his wife Jill Farnham in a statement on Wednesday.
The surgery on Tuesday was completed as two procedures, with a reconstructive team working to repair part of Farnham’s jaw, entertainment reporter Peter Ford told The Morning Show on Wednesday.
BREAKING NEWS
— The Morning Show (@morningshowon7) August 23, 2022
Entertainment editor Peter Ford @mrpford has revealed that singer John Farnham had part of his jaw removed during a marathon procedure to have a cancerous tumor removed from his mouth. pic.twitter.com/OwKIVo10Av
The couple’s sons, Rob and James, said in a statement: “We are in awe of the incredible teams of healthcare professionals who have guided us through this very challenging time with such compassion. All of you undertook this big job and have given us a magnificent outcome. To all the surgeons, doctors, nurses and consultants – thank you one and all so very much.”
Before his surgery on Tuesday, the singer had issued a statement about the health concern.
“Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me,” said Farnham, 73.
“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.”
The family has requested privacy as he undergoes recovery and post-operative treatment. It is unclear whether the singer will be able to perform again following the lengthy surgery and reported removal of part of his jaw.
“We are genuinely overwhelmed by the incredible wave of support, love and messages we have received from so many people around Australia,” said the Farnhams in a statement on Wednesday. “This means so much to us as a family. Thank you to everyone for this. John will be blown away.”
Best known for his signature song You’re the Voice, a chart-topping single from the mega-selling 1986 album Whispering Jack, Farnham has not performed in public since a headline appearance at ANZ Stadium for the Fire Fight Australia fundraiser concert in February 2020, shortly before the pandemic arrived on our shores.
“All Australians love John Farnham, and we wish him all the best, for him and his family at this time,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a press conference on Tuesday.
“It’s difficult news for people to have received this morning. John Farnham has been, and continues to be, a great Australian,” he said. “He’s not only provided entertainment for Australians over many decades, he also has been a contributor to the nation. ”
“When people need to raise money for bushfire recovery, or for anything else, John Farnham is always there, and Australians’ thoughts are with him and his family today,” said Mr Albanese.
For a crowd of about 70,000 fans at the Fire Fight concert in 2020, Farnham and his band performed a five-song set that ended with a fresh version of his signature song, featuring guest vocals in Gamilaraay language by singer Mitch Tambo and Queen’s Brian May on electric guitar.
Footage from that Fire Fight concert recently resurfaced following the news of Olivia Newton-John’s death from cancer, aged 73, on August 8.
It was there that the late pop singer – and Farnham’s great mate and longtime collaborator – gave her final performance before Australian audiences.
“Would you please do me a favour and welcome to the stage my friend Dame Olivia Newton-John?” Farnham asked the crowd. “Where are you, Your Highness?”
The duo were both in fine voice as they performed a towering version of Two Strong Hearts, a hit from Farnham’s 1988 album Age of Reason that the duo had sung together during The Main Event, a highly successful tour staged in 1998 that featured the pair and fellow singer Anthony Warlow.
Following news of her death earlier this month, he said in a statement: “The Farnham family send love and sympathies to Olivia’s family. Behind that iconic smile was a tenacious fighter. A beautiful voice and a loyal friend. She will be greatly missed.”
It was the second major loss to befall Farnham this year, after his longtime manager Glenn Wheatley died in February from complications with Covid.
Wheatley famously mortgaged his house to finance the recording of Farnham’s 12th album, Whispering Jack.
This gamble turned out to be one of the smartest ever taken in the history of Australian pop music: the album went on to spend 25 weeks at No. 1 and has been accredited 24x platinum by ARIA, indicating sales in excess of 1.68 million copies.
“Our family are devastated at the loss of our friend,” the Farnhams said in a statement after Wheatley’s death. “We also obviously feel for his family as well. With his passing so many people have lost a part of their lives. We will miss you Glenn, and promise to be there for Gaynor and the family. Love Jill, John, Robert and James Farnham.”
In June 2020, readers of The Australian voted Whispering Jack as the best chart-topping Australian album of all time with about 29 per cent of votes, ahead of The Swing by INXS (23 per cent) and Midnight Oil’s Diesel and Dust (15 per cent).
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