John Farnham gives major health update a year after cancer surgery

Australian music legend John Farnham has given a huge health update, calling himself "the luckiest man".

The 74-year-old You're the Voice hitmaker was hospitalised last year after he developed a chest infection following surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in his mouth.

“I’m home now, and I’m a very grateful and happy man,” he said in a statement.

“I’m sitting here in my living room lapping up the attention from my beautiful wife, Jill, my boys Rob and James and mini schnauzer Edmund.

“I can’t wait to see what might be next on the menu,” he said.

“Bring on 2024. “

Last month, the star's son shared an update on his father’s health, saying he was staying ‘super positive’.

Speaking to Sunrise, John’s son Robert Farnham said his father was “doing fantastic” after a 12-hour surgery for throat cancer.

“Just the other day, he was walking around with his with his cane and did a little bit of a dance, which was pretty fabulous,” Robert said.

“He’s walking with his dog a lot, so he’s really, really happy.”

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It comes as an Australian-made documentary on his life, Finding the Voice, aired on Channel Seven.

Despite reports at the time of his surgery saying the singer is "unlikely" to perform again, his son revealed he’s started singing around the house.

“He’s doing really good, he’s super positive,” Robert said on The Morning Show with Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.

Robert also revealed his dad is yet to view the biopic, adding he doesn’t even read reviews about himself.

“He’s not one to watch himself on TV or even read reviews – he‘s just it’s just not like that. But we’ll make him watch it,” he said.

“He’s doing really good, he’s super positive.

“Cancer is a terrible, terrible thing, and it’s his time to walk that road but he’s cancer-free and he’s doing really, really good.”

The star discovered the cancer when his wife Jill Farnham insisted he goes to his doctor for a check-up.

"John continues his recovery following last year's successful surgery," Jill said in a statement, according to Daily Mail. "He's always been a strong and determined person with everything he's ever done and we are all so proud of him. He is responding well to the specialist care he's receiving."

John had part of his jaw removed and reconstructive surgery in August last year and was in the intensive care unit for over a week afterwards.

The singer was a smoker for many years, taking up the habit when he was just 14. He quit in 1992 after starring in Jesus Christ Superstar, later turning to cigars in 2004.

He quit smoking before his 70th birthday, with entertainment reporter Peter Ford revealing he did so after his son said, "Please stop smoking dad, I don't want you to die."

In August, John said in a statement that his cancer diagnosis was something people faced every 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," he said.

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