Thursday 25 August 2022 05:46 AM John Blackman says John Farnham faces a difficult recovery after jaw removal ... trends now

John Blackman has shared insight into John Farnham's cancer battle as the singer recovers from his extensive mouth cancer surgery.

The iconic Australian entertainer, 73, underwent an 11-and-a-half hour surgery to remove a tumour from his mouth after his family revealed he had been diagnosed with the cancer on Tuesday.

Blackman, 74, who lost his own jaw during the same procedure four years ago, told 7News on Thursday that Farnham's recovery won't be easy.

'Hopefully John will get through this with as little angst as possible, and he's going to need all the support he can get,' said the Hey Hey It's Saturday star.

'I know his family is very loving and they're all going to gather around him,' he added.

Blackman also said he cried after learning about his old friend's diagnosis.

Blackman lost his jaw to an aggressive form of skin cancer, known as basal-cell carcinoma, in August 2018.

Surgeons replaced his jaw with a piece of his thigh bone during a 10-hour operation. 

Following the procedure, the comedian spent five weeks recovering in hospital before spending another six weeks in rehabilitation.

Blackman, who fought cancer for a second time back in June, also offered some words of encouragement during an interview with the Morning Show on Thursday. 

'[He] 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,' he said. 

Farnham will likely have a tube inserted into his windpipe as he recovers in an intensive care unit from the extensive surgery. 

The surgery started at 8am on Tuesday and was successfully completed about 7.30pm that night, with the singer having to have part of his jaw removed.

The performer is stable in the ICU after the operation, carried out by an army of 26 medical staff. 

Farnham now faces an extensive period of recovery, including learning to eat and drink again.

There are also fears Farnham may never sing again. 

Sydney radio producers have been told a tube will be put down the 'You're the Voice' singer's throat, with many speculating the star will need to avoid talking, eating and singing for at least a few months 

'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,' 2GB's Ben Fordham

read more from dailymail.....