John Blackman gives health update just days after latest cancer surgery

John Blackman updated fans on his health on Monday just days after he went under the knife to have yet another skin graft, following extensive surgery 18-months ago which saw him lose his entire jaw after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer.

The Hey Hey It’s Saturday star had his jaw bone removed and then rebuilt using bone from his thigh in a gruelling 11-hour procedure in September 2018, after doctors told him that his swollen mouth was actually a tumour, which they warned could spread to his brain if not treated immediately.

The television and radio legend was admitted to hospital once again on Friday to undergo further facial and dental surgery as plastic surgeons used skin grafts to form a “gutter” which they hope will prevent John from dribbling. And it seems as though all went according to plan as the 72-year-old shared an update on Monday.

In the touching post, John thanked his followers for their “messages of goodwill” over the past week, before thanking the “angels” who work at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

“A huge ‘thank you’ for the hundreds of messages of goodwill posted here over the past few days in relation to my latest surgical procedure,” he wrote on Facebook. “I was genuinely moved by each and everyone of them.

“Thanks also to all the angels at The Alfred – the best hospital in the world and, talking of the best, my plastic surgeon, Frank Bruscino-Raiola and Reconstruction dentist, Ian Hewson! I can now finally see a glimmer of light at the end of what has been a very long and dark tunnel!”

Ahead of the operation, John spoke to Nine News last Thursday and revealed that while he may sound and look awful, he’s actually a “very, very healthy 72-year-old”.