Dick Vitale Battles Cancer Once Again
Renowned college basketball announcer Dick Vitale has shared that he is facing cancer for the fifth time. The 86-year-old revealed on Monday that a recent biopsy confirmed the presence of melanoma in his lungs and liver cavity. He has begun immunotherapy to combat this latest challenge.
This marks Vitale’s fifth diagnosis of cancer, with a history of having previously dealt with melanoma.
“I’ve beaten melanoma before,” Vitale stated in a message released to ESPN. “I defeated lymphoma, vocal cord cancer, and lymph node cancer. That’s four victories, but I’m up against the fifth. Still, I have faith in my recovery.” He expressed this optimism despite receiving unexpected news from his oncologist after undergoing a series of tests, including scans and bloodwork.
Known for his passionate commentary and enthusiasm for the game, Vitale, affectionately known as “Dickie V,” has made significant contributions to college basketball since ESPN began broadcasting in 1979. He has spent almost half a century in this field and is under contract with the network through the 2027-28 season.
Vitale’s health struggles began in 2021 with his first melanoma diagnosis, later developing lymphoma, which required chemotherapy and radiation for his vocal cords. In 2024, he underwent surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck, impacting his ability to speak for some time. Nevertheless, he remains in high spirits, asserting he feels “amazing” and is ready to take on whatever comes next.
“I’ve lived a remarkable life at 86, and now I’m more driven than ever to support children facing cancer,” he added.
A New Jersey native, Vitale started his coaching career at Garfield High School and later led his alma mater, East Rutherford High School, to win two state titles.
He also served as an assistant at Rutgers before becoming the head coach at the University of Detroit and coaching the Pistons. In 1979, he made history by calling the first college basketball game in ESPN’s existence, where DePaul triumphed over the University of Wisconsin.
