A PET scan has shown that Basketball Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale is cancer-free, he announced Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Santa Claus came early for me & my family … (My doctors) gave me super news that the PET SCAN was clean (NO CANCER) & my bloodwork was all very good,” Vitale said Thursday.
Vitale, 84, announced his vocal cord cancer diagnosis in July and said he would undergo six weeks of radiation. Last month, Vitale said that vocal cord cancer was “gone” but “the impact of the treatments has taken its toll on my voice and requires more healing.”
Santa Claus came early for me & my family . Just was on the phone with Dr Rick Brown ( my oncologist ) Dr Ken Meredith ( bloodwork ) They gave me super news that the PET SCAN was clean (NO CANCER ) & my bloodwork was all very good .To many of you I send ❤️❤️❤️ & THANK YOU for ur…
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 14, 2023
Vitale previously underwent surgery on his vocal cords in February 2022 after stopping his broadcasting duties at the start of the year due to his ongoing battle with Dysplasia on his vocal cords. Following the surgery, the broadcaster went on voice rest for four weeks.
In October 2021, Vitale announced he was diagnosed with lymphoma. It came mere months after he underwent multiple surgeries to remove melanoma and was deemed cancer-free. He announced the Dysplasia diagnosis that December.
Vitale shared positive news in August 2022 when he tweeted he’d gone from “being in remission to being CANCER FREE.”
GO DEEPER
He’s awesome, baby! The Dick Vitale you don’t see on TV
The coach-turned-broadcaster started his career coaching Detroit Mercy and the Detroit Pistons. He called ESPN’s first college basketball game on Dec. 5, 1979, and has been with the network since. Vitale was honored with the 2022 Jimmy V Award at the ESPYs for his courageous fights with multiple cancer diagnoses.
(Photo: Leon Bennett / Getty Images)