{"id":84179,"date":"2025-08-21T05:13:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T05:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/84179\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T05:13:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T05:13:09","slug":"john-farnhams-sons-share-major-health-update-about-singers-cancer-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/84179\/","title":{"rendered":"John Farnham’s sons share major health update about singer’s cancer journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

By MEGAN WATTS, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 22:16 EDT, 20 August 2025 | Updated: 23:21 EDT, 20 August 2025 <\/p>\n

John Farnham<\/a>‘s sons have shared an update about the Australian rocker’s\u00a0cancer<\/a> battle, revealing that their dad is ‘stubborn’ as ever.<\/p>\n

Rob and James Farnham sat down with Sunrise’s Matt Shirvington<\/a> and Natalie Barr<\/a> on Thursday to discuss their famous dad’s health after he was diagnosed with oral cancer in August 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Aussie crooner immediately underwent a strenuous 12-hour surgery to remove the tumour and reconstruct his jaw.<\/p>\n

Since then, the 76-year-old has had a number of smaller operations on his road to recovery.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his father’s three-year cancer journey, Rob shared an update with fans.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘He\u2019s doing good\u2026 you go through such a dramatic surgery, particularly on your face, it\u2019s going to affect you.’<\/p>\n

\"John <\/p>\n

John Farnham ‘s sons have shared an update about the Australian rocker’s cancer battle, revealing that their dad is ‘stubborn’ as ever\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Rob <\/p>\n

Rob and James Farnham sat down with Sunrise’s Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr to discuss their famous dad’s health after he was diagnosed with oral cancer in August 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He added: ‘But he\u2019s resilient, he\u2019s strong\u2026 stubborn.’<\/p>\n

‘He’s doing quite well, he’s sticking to his regime.\u00a0My mum makes sure he’s doing all the right things – shout out to her.’<\/p>\n

The Farnham brothers appeared on the Aussie breakfast program to raise awareness and funds for Daffodil Day, an annual Cancer Council event held on August 21.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2022, the You’re The Voice hitmaker\u00a0discovered he had a cancerous growth in his mouth after his wife Jill insisted he get a persistent mouth ulcer checked out.<\/p>\n

Having found a malignant tumour, the resulting operation saw parts of his mouth and jaw removed, and lasted nearly 12 hours.<\/p>\n

John then underwent eight gruelling weeks of radiation and, 12 months later, was declared cancer-free.<\/p>\n

In his memoir The Voice Inside, John detailed his cancer ordeal and how it robbed him of his life’s passion.<\/p>\n

‘My facial disfigurement from the surgery means I can’t open my mouth wide enough for a strip of spaghetti, let alone to sing,’ he wrote.<\/p>\n

\"'He\u2019s <\/p>\n

‘He\u2019s doing good\u2026 you go through such a dramatic surgery, particularly on your face, it\u2019s going to affect you,’ shared Rob<\/p>\n

‘I can’t get the movement to make the sounds I want to make, that’s where the vibrations and my voice come from. It’s a very disconcerting thing. And trying hurts.’<\/p>\n

While he has temporarily been robbed of what was regarded as one of the great voices of popular music, he still has hopes that one day he will perform again.<\/p>\n

‘I was given a gift and to be able to get out there and affect people in some way was special, I would like to continue doing that,’ he shared.<\/p>\n

John also said he believes the tumour came about as a result of his long-term smoking habit, which he eventually managed to kick.<\/p>\n

‘Cancer doesn’t discriminate, but as soon as I was told the results, I couldn’t help thinking it was my own fault, I smoked very heavily all my life,’ he said.<\/p>\n

He said he started smoking at the age of 14 and would do so in secret after his disapproving parents once caught him.<\/p>\n

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