John Farnham’s sons reveal why family used ‘secret passwords’ while he underwent cancer surgery

The sons of Australian music legend John Farnham have revealed the family were forced to use ‘secret passwords’ while their father underwent a marathon cancer surgery to save his life because of the intense public interest.

Farnham was operated on by 26 hospital staff in a 12-hour procedure to remove a cancerous lump from his mouth and part of his jaw, the singer had initially thought was a just a mouth ulcer. 

Robert and James Farnham said the family used secret codenames during the operation on August 23, telling A Current Affair reporter Seb Costello information surrounding their father’s condition was only shared with his inner circle. 

They also revealed their father’s symptoms began when he had trouble sleeping due to a lump in his cheek, which made it painful to sleep on his side. 

‘A lot of people are fans and love him, you sort of live through it publicly which can be quite difficult,’ Robert, 41, said.

‘Everyone’s just so loving and caring, it was a little bit of cloak and dagger because people were trying to find out where he was. 

‘So we had secret passwords and stuff and nothing ever got out, which is a credit to the people that were involved.’

Costello pressed the brothers on what they meant by ‘secret passwords’. 

‘Can’t tell you the passwords mate,’ Robert joked. ‘It was codewords and stuff’.

Speaking about when problems began for their father, the Farnham brothers said he received his shock diagnosis after first he experiencing trouble sleeping. 

Farnham (pictured with his sons) was operated on by 26 surgeons during the life-saving procedure

The Farnham brothers revealed how their father had received his shock diagnosis, after he began experiencing trouble sleeping (pictured, a young James Farnham with his parents)

‘He likes to sleep on his side, and he had a lump in his cheek which Mum noticed too and made him go to the dentist,’ James said. 

‘The dentist noticed it and referred him to someone that knew more about it.’

Robert said his father had initially thought the lump was a mouth ulcer, which was causing him pain when it rubbed against his teeth.

‘We’d speak to him and he’d be like “oh my bloody teeth” because he kept biting this ulcer and it turned out to be cancer,’ Robert said. 

‘It’s just terrifying, it’s bloody terrifying.’ 

The brothers reflected on the strength of their mother, Jillian, who has been married to the musician for 49 years and said she had kept them from ‘falling apart’ (pictured, the Farnhams)

Robert Farnham said his father (pictured with wife Jill) had initially thought the lump was a mouth ulcer, which was causing him pain when it rubbed against his teeth

The boys thanked Farnham’s fans for their letters of support and said the muso was thinking about his recovery, rather than the possibility of performing again.  

‘He’s in recovery now, obviously pulled through the surgery,’ Robert said. 

‘That was pretty hectic, pretty hairy, but he’s on the mend now and he’s feeling a bit better, he’s a bit chirpier and he’s making jokes again which is fantastic.’

‘It was kind of comforting to know that Australia was behind him, I know that he appreciated that, I remember when we first told him, he got teary,’ James added. 

The brothers reflected on the strength of their mother, Jillian, who has been married to the musician for 49 years. 

The boys thanked Farnham’s fans for their letters of support and said the muso (pictured with son James) was thinking about his recovery, rather than the possibility of performing again

The long-standing couple first met in 1971 in Melbourne as performers in the musical Charlie Girl – John was singing while Jill was a dancer

Without Mum, I think things would fall apart very, very fast,’ Robert said.

‘She’s a very strong woman,’ his younger brother James agreed.

The long-standing couple first met in 1971 in Melbourne as performers in the musical Charlie Girl – John was singing while Jill was a dancer.

Of their first meeting, Farnham told 60 Minutes in 1993: ‘Jillie came out of the theatre and I saw her. At that stage, she had very long dark hair, down to her very petite bum, and I was history.’

Farnham underwent an almost 12-hour surgery to remove a tumour from his mouth in August

The long-standing couple first met in 1971 in Melbourne as performers in the musical Charlie Girl – John was singing while Jill was a dancer (pictured, the couple on their wedding day) 

In 1979 the couple welcomed their first child Robert, and then James in 1980.

Three years ago when Farnham was experiencing kidney pain, it was his wife Jill that encouraged her husband to see a doctor.

He was hospitalised with a severe kidney infection and was forced to cancel his national tour. The health scare saw Farnham quit cigars and cut back on alcohol. 

Farnham officially quit smoking for good just before his 70th birthday.

‘Stupid habit. It was a little easier to quit from cigars, but I’m better off not smoking, I’m a bloody singer for God’s sake,’ he told the Herald Sun in 2019.