kcra
Longtime college basketball voice Dick Vitale has offered a positive health update after revealing his fifth cancer diagnosis in April. The 87-year-old broadcaster took to social media on Wednesday to share that his recent blood tests came back 'very good,' and that the immunotherapy treatments he is receiving are proving highly effective at eradicating the cancer.
Vitale's battle with cancer began in 2021 when he was first diagnosed with melanoma. After being declared cancer-free, he later faced lymphoma, and in 2023, he learned he had vocal cord cancer. The following year, he was diagnosed with lymph node cancer, which required surgery as part of his treatment.
Key Analysis
Vitale, a fixture on ESPN's college basketball coverage, has shown remarkable resilience throughout his health struggles. In 2022, he received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, an honor named after his close friend Jim Valvano, the late college basketball coach who succumbed to adenocarcinoma in 1993. Beyond his broadcasting career, Vitale has dedicated years to fundraising for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, an organization co-founded by Valvano.
While Vitale made several appearances on ESPN last season, he has not yet announced any plans for the upcoming season. His focus remains on his recovery, and his latest update brings encouragement to fans and colleagues who have followed his journey.
Originally reported by kcra.