ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, whose enthusiastic game calls have been a staple of the sport for decades, announced today that he is cancer-free.
Vitale had lengthy battles with lymphoma and melanoma, forcing him off television and causing him to lose his voice at one point.
“Dr Rick Brown just notified me with my results of my major Pet Scan & told me news I wish EVERY cancer patient can hear,” Vitale posted Wednesday on his verified Twitter account. “He said ‘Dick u have gone from being in remission to being CANCER FREE’ ! Thank u to ALL of YOU that have sent me (prayers).”
The 83-year-old Vitale has been up and down in his cancer battle. After announcing in August 2021 that he had beaten melanoma, he then contracted lymphoma, a condition unrelated to his previous bout.
Last December, Vitale decided to step away from ESPN to undergo treatment. He also had vocal cord surgery and temporarily lost his voice.
Vitale has been active in fundraising efforts against cancer, raising more than $50 million for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the foundation of his former Rutgers colleague and longtime friend Jim Valvano.
ESPN+ released a documentary on VItale, Dickie V, last month. Vitale has maintained an exhaustive schedule of game announcing, fundraising and speaking engagements. There has been no word on whether he plans to cut back even slightly.
It was RING THE BELL TIME ! Yes it was a tough 7 months but it was super hearing Dr Brown @SMHCS say that I have zero cancer currently .I was inspired daily by the famous words of my late buddy Jimmy V “Don’t Give up DON’T EVER GIVE UP!” @amyuf @jksports @ESPNPR pic.twitter.com/uRQEzjOug2 — Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 14, 2022
19Cookie91 on August 18th, 2022 at 12:44 UTC »
That’s pretty awesome baby
nate_oh84 on August 18th, 2022 at 09:59 UTC »
He told the cancer to TAKE A T.O. BAYBEE!!!
justabill71 on August 18th, 2022 at 09:58 UTC »
I got nervous before I got to the good part of the headline. Great news. Love Dickie V. He's awesome, baby!