Radio and TV icon, John Blackman has opened up about his health battle in an interview with Neil Mitchell on 3AW.

 
Diagnosed a with basal-cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of cancer, doctors feared it would become rampant if they didn’t act soon.
 
Nine months after undergoing surgery to remove and reconstruct his jaw, John said “It’s like I ploughed into a tree and my life changed forever.”
 
The 12 hour surgery redesigned his jaw using his fibula, his teeth were removed and skin from his inner thigh replaced a section of his chin.
 
He says his voice no longer has the authority it once had and “… I sound like a very drunk uncle Arthur when I’m on the phone.”
 
Johns aim is to get back to what he loves the most, his work. As a public speaker, an entertainer and an comedian, his voice was his livelihood.

“When I was given the news, my first thought was ‘I’ve got a full diary full of corporate gigs, I’m going to have to ring them all and put them on hold… It’s made me realise there are more important things in life than work… There’s people out there far worse off Neil.”