John Blackman reveals cancer diagnosis
Veteran showbiz star undergoes major surgery, amid fears a cancer diagnosis may spell the end of his career.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
Announcer and comedian John Blackman has revealed aggressive cancer which he fears may spell the end of his entertainment career.
Blackman is recovering from major surgery after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer, basal-cell carcinoma which doctors feared may spread to his brain if not removed quickly.
‘Blackers’, best known for Hey Hey It’s Saturday, had his jaw removed and replaced with a part of his thigh bone in a marathon operation lasting 10 hours on Friday at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.
“(My surgeon) said, ‘well, just get prepared to not be able to do all the things you’ve been able to do for the past 50 years’, which is a bit of a kick in the guts,” he told A Current Affair reporter Martin King.
“To perform, you have to look good, you have to sound good, you have to sound confident and be confident. I just won’t be able to do that anymore.
“There’s the Texas chainsaw massacre going on under here,” he said, showing King the cancer under a band aid on his face.
He added, “The message we’d like to get across to everybody is, for God’s sake, go and see your dermatologist frequently, (even) if it’s even four times a year.”
Best wishes John!
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- Tagged with A Current Affair, Hey Hey It’s Saturday
2 Responses
Poor bloke, I hope he has a quick recovery. Basal Cell Carcinomas can cause a lot of damage when left unchecked. Everyone should get regular skin checks.
Check at least twice per year. Most skin doctors bulk bill, but regardless, they are often in places that the patient can’t see.