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The veteran sportscaster, Dick Vitale, got emotional during a recent live broadcast recounting his health struggles. The ESPN employee reflected upon his multiple cancer diagnoses and overcame those battles to return to the broadcasting booth. Vitale was on the verge of tears when he told his co-commentators,
“It's a miracle to sit here with you guys. I can't tell you how much you've meant to me. It's been unbelievable. A tough three years, those four cancer battles. I don't wish it on anybody. Cancer sucks.”
Dick Vitale was first diagnosed with cancer in 2021. The broadcaster announced in August about testing positive for melanoma. He was further informed about undergoing treatment and his first surgery to remove the skin cancer on June 28.
Dickie V had celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife Lorraine in May 2021 before he found out about cancer. The basketball sportscaster told via ESPN Front Row,
“It was Awesome Baby [celebrating 50th marriage anniversary in Hawaii]; I was riding high. Then came the scary news: a diagnosis that some skin they removed from above my nose had tested positive for melanoma. My heart sank.”
The longtime broadcaster’s health struggles continued for the next couple of years after getting diagnosed with cancer multiple times.
Dick Vitale’s battles against cancer continued until December 2024
Following his first announcement in August, the ESPN sports commentator confirmed another health update in October 2021. He confirmed getting diagnosed with lymphoma months after making his battle with Melanoma public. Vitale announced via ESPN,
“For the second time in just a few months, I’ve been diagnosed with a form of cancer. As a result of some symptoms I’ve had in recent weeks, I’ve been undergoing tests and doctors have now confirmed it’s lymphoma.”
After almost a year later, Dick Vitale announced that he was cancer-free. Melanoma and lymphoma weren’t the only hurdles the veteran commentator faced.
In December 2022, doctors discovered precancerous dysplasia and ulcerated lesions on Vitale’s vocal cords, resulting in him losing his voice for four months. The 85-year-old had to undergo another surgery, per IndyStar (The Indianapolis Star).
Ultimately, Vitale made a return to the broadcasting booth in November 2022 but again faced a cancer scare the following year. He was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in July 2023. Following six weeks of radiation therapy, Vitale confirmed that he was cancer-free again.
The basketball sportscaster battled cancer one more time when the doctors identified lymph node cancer in June 2024. Dick Vitale wrote on X,
“My report on the Biopsy of the Lymph Node in my neck has arrived & it is cancerous . With all the 🙏🙏🙏 I have received & the loving support of my family,friends & @espn colleagues I will win this battle .🙏🙏🙏 surgery on Tues. will be a success . Thanks for All the prayers.”
The broadcaster recovered from his fourth battle with cancer and was declared cancer-free last year in December. Having faced tough health-related struggles, the sportscaster returned to the broadcasting booth.
During a game on March 16, he thanked the fans, his colleagues, and ESPN for their support and recounted his experience during the past three years. He also addressed those suffering from cancer and said,
“Think positive, always, and have faith and believe. And if there's a person who knows someone with cancer, send them a text message… Make a phone call. The bottom line, it means so much. I know it meant a lot to me in my darkest moment when I was in the hospital doing chemo and I had a bad, bad day. Man, it was a tough, tough time, and I had to stay overnight.”
He further added,
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“My family left and I ended up crying like crazy and the nurse came in and she cheered me up. And I went to my phone and on my phone were messages from all over the country.”
During the broadcast, Dick Vitale also expressed his desire to return next year in a “better” shape.
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