John Farnham’s son reveals secret health battle
John Farnham’s youngest son has shared the details of a private health battle that he was navigating while his famous father was recovering from throat cancer.
James Farnham revealed that he underwent “major surgery” that “saved my life” in 2023 to deal with diverticular disease.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday night, Farnham shared a post-surgery photo and some symptoms of diverticulitis to raise awareness of the condition.
“Last year, just as Dad was recovering from his cancer surgeries, I also had major surgery to deal with diverticular disease that had caused perforations in my bowel,” he began.
“The surgery saved my life but it has left me with a stoma — a surgically created opening in the abdomen that allows me to poo... into a temporary colostomy bag.”
“With any luck, I will be receiving my reversal surgery in the next couple (of) months.”
He said with hindsight he was ready to share his story, being able to see that the “whole thing may have been preventable”.
“I was totally shocked to learn how many people (including young people, I can’t stress that enough) receive this diagnosis,” he said.
“Coming off the back of what felt like a torturous period that left us emotionally exhausted.”
“It was one thing after another, and when I noticed something felt wrong I kept ignoring it.”
“While I felt unwell for a while the whole thing happened very quickly in the end and I didn’t have much time to comprehend what was happening.”
“After the surgery, I dealt with fear, isolation, disgust, paranoia and something I’ve never had before — body image issues.”
“I’ve had to go through a huge psychosocial adjustment.”
Farnham said that his main symptom was abdominal pain that he experienced for months and “kept ignoring”.
“After a few days of complaining ... arguing with my partner Tessa, she finally said, ‘enough is enough!’”
Upon more checks, Farnham was diagnosed with diverticulitis that had perforated in his bowel.
His situation soon became “an emergency situation” and was “absolutely terrified” when it came time to have his surgery.
“I had a rough recovery period and it took three weeks before I was able to go home.”
Farnham said that the “reality was now setting in ... this was my life now.”
“It was almost too much for me to comprehend. Thankfully I had support.”
James credited his partner Tessa who comforted him through his health journey, and helped him come to terms with his new reality.
“Flash forward to now, I’ve figured out my ways and how to deal with everything and I now feel more comfortable.
“I’m telling people and making jokes about it. Maybe this is because I know it’s temporary, but it’s really changed the way I deal with things, especially the way I view my health.
“Listening to my body and respecting it.”
For his birthday, Farnham requested donations to Bowel Cancer Australia, Crohn’s & Colitis Australia and Let’s Beat Bowel Cancer to help raise awareness for bowel disease.
The 36-year-old’s health battle took place as his father, singer John Farnham was recovering from throat cancer, undergoing a 12-hour surgery where doctors removed a tumour from his mouth before reconstructing his jaw in a second major operation.
Image credits: Instagram