Fears for Australian icon John Farnham, 73, as he was rushed to hospital just months after he underwent 12-hour surgery to remove cancer from his mouth: The star is unlikely to perform again
John Farnham was taken to hospital with a respiratory infection.
The legendary singer, 73, was recovering from major surgery at a rehab center, before being hospitalized again with pneumonia.
“He is currently being treated for a respiratory infection in hospital, but is comfortable and receiving the best care,” his family confirmed in a statement on Friday.
Farnham underwent a 12-hour operation to remove a tumor at a Melbourne hospital last August, shortly after he was diagnosed with oral cancer.
He had only discovered that he had a cancerous tumor in his mouth after his wife insisted that he take him to the doctor for an examination.
Unlikely to lead again.
John Farnham was taken to hospital with a respiratory infection
His wife, Jill Farnham, said on Friday: “John is continuing his recovery following successful surgery last year.
He has always been such a strong and determined person with everything he has ever done and we are all very proud of him.
“He is responding well to the specialized care he is receiving.”
The family thanked the medical teams who have looked after Farnham over the past six months, along with fans for sending messages of support.
Glenn Wheatley’s widow, Gaynor Wheatley, previously said that Farnham’s family learned of his cancer a few weeks before his operation.
I think John suffers from that guy who says “I’m fine,” and he was lucky, and we have Jill to thank for taking him to the doctors (where) they found this legion in his mouth which is now out and he spoke, she told The Today Show.
There were no complications, she said, and thanked the “heroic” surgeons who operated on Farnham.
“I think at one point there were 26 surgeons, so they’re our heroes, they’re our rock stars,” Wheatley said.
Farnham has spoken earlier about his smoking habit, which he says began when he was a “stupid” 14-year-old.
He left Cold Turkey in 1992 after starring in Jesus Christ Superstar, but came back again with Cigars in 2004.
Farnham (pictured with Olivia Newton-John) was recovering from major surgery at a rehab centre, before being admitted to hospital again this week.
He officially quit smoking forever before his 70th birthday.
stupid habit. It was a little easier to quit cigars, but it’s better not to, I’m a bloody singer for God’s sake,” he told the Herald Sun in 2019.
I use my lungs. I have already noticed the change. I’ve increased my scope, I have more to offer, I’ve cleared the blockage.
Entertainment reporter Peter Ford said one of his sons received a “wake-up call” and told the singer, “Please stop smoking, Dad, I don’t want you to die.”
This led to him quitting cigarettes permanently.
“He was always puffing away,” the reporter said, “I don’t think he was ever proud of it.”
A cancer diagnosis was something many people face every day and “countless people have walked that path before me,” Farnham said, in a separate statement provided by the family prior to the surgery.
“One thing I know for sure is that we have the best healthcare professionals in Victoria and we can all be grateful for that,” he said.
It comes three years after Farnham was hospitalized with a severe kidney infection – which made him put down cigars forever.
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