Hey Hey It's Saturday star's devastating diagnosis
Hey Hey It's Saturday star John Blackman has been dealt a second blow by the same rare form of cancer.
The 74-year-old revealed in a lengthy post on Facebook that he was diagnosed with bone cancer a month ago.
The devastating diagnosis comes four years after he battled an aggressive form of skin cancer which saw surgeons replace his chin with a leg bone.
“Four weeks ago, I was diagnosed with a very unexpected bone cancer on the top of my noggin and the possibility of brain cancer beneath (yes, I actually do have a brain). This was the same aggressive cancer that took my jaw four years ago,” the TV personality wrote.
“Happily, the cancer (if there is a happy side to cancer) was spreading up and down and not in multiple directions. This could have made surgery improbable.
“Following PET and CAT Scans and a radioactive MRI, my plastic surgeon Frank consulted with my neurosurgeon, Patrick and together they devised a plan of attack.”
The actor confirmed that he had already undergone an eight-hour surgery at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and is due to start six weeks of radiotherapy next week.
"The cancer infected bone has gone and been replaced with a titanium mesh cover; a skin graft has replaced all of the skin on top of my head; and brain biopsies taken during surgery are clear," he continued.
"A great result with enormous gratitude to the dedicated doctors and nurses at The Alfred – true heroes each and every one of them. Six weeks of daily radiotherapy begin next week."
Blackman had already returned home since the gruelling surgery, wearing a “Fight MND” beanie in support of footy legend Neale Daniher, who was diagnosed with the incurable disease in 2013.
He encouraged his legion of fans to donate to the Fight MND organisation.
The star was also appointed as the Director in Charge of Creative Ideas for his wife Cecile’s YOU NEED A HUG start-up. “It was either that… or, ironing! It’s a fabulous concept,” he joked.
Back in 2018, Blackman was diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer known as basal-cell carcinoma.
It appeared to be a “little pimple” on his chin that just didn’t quite disappear, but then doctors feared it would spread to his brain if left untreated.
Blackman then had his jaw removed during a 10-hour operation and it was replaced with part of his leg bone.
“[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," Blackman told A Current Affair at the time.
"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.
"Life without doing that is just so alien to me. I mean, I don't know what I'm going to do."
Images: Facebook