Legendary entertainer John Farnham has been diagnosed with cancer, his family has revealed in a statement.

He will undergo surgery today to remove a tumour, with surgeons confident the operation will be successful.

“Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me,” Farnham said in a statement.

“The one thing I know for sure is that we have the very best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria, and we can all be grateful for that. I know I am.”

The family has requested privacy during this time.