John Farnham rushed to hospital

John Farnham has been rushed to hospital with a respiratory infection.

The legendary singer, 73, was recovering from major surgery at a rehab center before being hospitalized again for the lung infection.

“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 being diagnosed with oral cancer.

He only found out he had the cancerous growth in his mouth after his wife insisted on taking him to the doctor for a checkup.

It is ‘unlikely’ that he will act again.

His wife, Jill Farnham, said on Friday: “John is continuing his recovery following successful surgery last year.

“He has always been a strong and determined person with everything he has 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 cared for Farnham over the past six months, along with fans for sending messages of support.

Gaynor Wheatley, Glenn Wheatley’s widow, previously said Farnham’s family only found out about his cancer a few weeks before the operation.

“I think John suffers from that ‘I’m fine’ man thing, and he was lucky, and we have Jill to thank for getting him to the doctors (where) they found this legion in his mouth that has now been removed and targeted.” he told The Today Show.

She said there were no complications and thanked the ‘hero’ surgeons who operated on Farnham.

“I think at one point there were 26 surgeons, so they are our heroes, they are our rock stars,” Ms Wheatley said.

Farnham has previously spoken about his smoking habit, which he says started when he was a “stupid” 14-year-old.

He quit “cold turkey” in 1992 after starring in Jesus Christ Superstar, but picked up the habit with cigars in 2004.

Farnham (pictured with Olivia Newton-John) had been recovering from major surgery at a rehabilitation center before being hospitalized again this week.

He officially quit smoking just before his 70th birthday.

‘Stupid habit. It was a bit easier to give up the cigars, but I better not smoke, I’m a fucking singer, for God’s sake,” he told the Herald Sun in 2019.

I’m using my lungs. I have already noticed the change. Increased my reach, got a little more to give, removed a block.

Entertainment reporter Peter Ford said Farnham received a “wake-up call” from one of his sons who told the singer “please quit daddy, I don’t want you to die”.

That led him to quit cigarettes for good.

“He was always puffing, I don’t think he was ever proud of it,” the reporter said.

Farnham, in a separate statement provided by the family before her operation, said a cancer diagnosis was something many people face every day “and countless others have walked this road before me.”

‘The only thing I know for sure is that we have the best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria and we can all be thankful for that. I know I am,’ he said.

It comes three years after Farnham was hospitalized with a severe kidney infection, which led him to quit smoking for good.

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