John Farnham’s family provide new update on his condition

The family of the legendary Aussie entertainer have shared what state the music icon is in after his gruelling 12-hour surgery for mouth cancer.

Australian music icon John Farnham “is awake” after his marathon surgery to remove a tumour from his mouth.

His wife Jill Farnham on Monday provided an update on John’s condition.

“He is awake and responding well to the care he’s receiving,” the statement said.

He remains in a stable condition in ICU after 12-hour surgery on August 23.

“The Farnham family want to acknowledge and thank everyone for their ongoing messages and well wishes that have been shared throughout the last week. It really lifts our spirits knowing that everyone is thinking of John,” the family statement said.

It earlier emerged the 73-year-old may need a tube inserted into his windpipe and will likely spend weeks in hospital.

“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.

Former Countdown star Gavin Wood said the singing legend is “sitting up and getting stronger” after marathon cancer surgery.

“We can all get back to breathing normally now. John is sitting up and getting stronger,” Wood said on social media.

“All your prayers helped.”

Gavin Wood says John Farnham is sitting up and getting stronger.

Farnham underwent a 12-hour operation on Tuesday to have a cancerous tumour removed from his mouth.

He is recovering in an ICU ward at a Melbourne hospital.

Wood added on Facebook: “It looks like John Farnham and Blackman are the poster guys for such a horrible procedure. Such an outpouring of love, we all hope for a speedy recovery.”

Meanwhile, broadcaster Derryn Hinch has shared hilarious stories about his friendship with Farnham, spanning 40 years, in a bid to “brighten things up.”

Hinch’s ex-wife Jacki Weaver has been friends with John and, and his wife, Jill, forever.

But when Jacki mysteriously dropped off the radar, Jill surmised she had a new man in her life.

“Jill challenged her friend on the phone and Jacki said her new boyfriend was ‘Joe Hunch,’” Hinch wrote on the news website, The Big Smoke.

“This, coincidentally, was years before Steve Vizard came up with the Hunch character on Fast Forward.

Derryn Hinch has shared some hilarious stories of his friend, John Farnham. Picture: David Crosling

“Jill put John on the phone to wheedle the real name out of Miss Weaver.

“C’mon. We love you. We’ll embrace whoever your boyfriend is.” Finally, Jacki said “Derryn Hinch”. Farnham’s immediate response: “That c—.”

Hinch added: “Some years later, after Miss Weaver became Mrs Hinch, there was a party for my 45th or 50th birthday at the Sebel Town House in Sydney.

“Farnham turned up to sing for me and he re-told that story. He then said: “Since then, I have spent a lot of time with Hinchy and I can tell you … he’s still a c—.”

Hinch said Farnham face an “arduous recovery period” but has a solid rock of support in Jill, their sons Rob and James, and the nation. “My friend of 40 years, and his wife Jill, have two strong hearts. They will need that resilience,” Hinch said.

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

Beloved Aussie entertainer John Blackman — also known for his iconic voice — has also offered support to Farnham after having his own jaw removed four years ago.

Blackman was diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer, basal-cell carcinoma, which doctors feared would spread to his brain if not removed quickly, hence the mammoth surgery.

Entertainment reporter Peter Ford said Blackman wanted to offer the Farnham family hope in light of the difficult journey ahead.

“John Blackman wants to encourage him,” Ford said.

John Blackman had his entire jaw removed in life saving cancer surgery four years ago. Picture: Supplied

“He doesn’t want to shy away from the realities and there are a lot of them, and they’re pretty challenging, but at the same time he wants to provide some hope.”

Blackman said he hoped to see Farnham out and about fairly soon.

“At the end of the day, you might look like me perhaps, God forbid, but at the end of the day hopefully his voice isn’t affected — the gorgeous voice he had or has.

“But Jill and John and the rest of the Farnhams have got a fairly long, hard road to home, so be nice to him OK.”

Farnham may never perform again after a tumour, along with part of his jaw, was removed from his mouth during the nearly 12-hour operation.

Ford told 6PR that there were already doubts about whether “the Voice” would take to the stage again after the death of his dear friend and manager Glenn Wheatley in February, adding it was even more unlikely following cancer surgery.

“Certainly now you have to say there’s even a lesser chance (of him performing),” Ford said.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, his wife, Jill, and sons, Rob and James, disclosed the type of cancer that led to the marathon procedure.

“John has been through an eleven-and-a-half-hour surgery in Melbourne yesterday and is now in a stable condition in ICU,” Jill said.

“The cancer 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.”

The Farnham family clockwise from bottom left, Rob, Jill, James and John Farnham. Picture: Supplied

Ford later disclosed there were two parts to the surgery.

“The first was the removal of the tumour, the second was reconstructive surgery because John has had part of his jaw removed,” Ford said.

Ford said Farnham had been a major smoker for most of his life and his kids urged him to stop.

“He started smoking at the age of 14. One of his kids encouraged him to stop,” he said.

He added: “And he did stop smoking for 12 years. Regrettably, he then started smoking cigars many years after that.”

Farnham’s family jointly thanked family, friends and the general public for their messages of support.

“We are genuinely overwhelmed by the incredible wave of support, love and messages we have received today from so many people around Australia. This means so much to us as a family. Thank you to everyone for this. John will be blown away”.

John Farnham performs during Fire Fight Australia at ANZ Stadium in 2020 in Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

They also paid tribute to the doctors and nurses who took care of their patriarch.

“We are in awe of the incredible teams of health care professionals who have guided us through this very challenging time with such compassion. All of you undertook this big job today and have given us a magnificent outcome. To all the surgeons, doctors, nurses and consultants — thank you one and all so very much.”

Farnham will remain in hospital for a period of time for recovery and post-operative treatment.

The family has asked for privacy at this time.

The shock diagnosis was made public in a statement from the Farnham family on Tuesday.

The statement was issued by Gaynor Wheatley, wife of Farnham’s late manager Glenn Wheatley, and talent manager David Wilson.

“We recently discovered that John has a cancerous growth,” the statement said.

Farnham added: “Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me. 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”.

Friends of the singer had been told he was unwell a couple of weeks ago.

Originally published as John Farnham’s family provide new update on his condition