Beloved college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale revealed a new cancer diagnosis in a statement on Monday after saying last week that recent test results “showed some abnormalities.”
A biopsy showed that Vitale has melanoma in his lung and liver cavity, and the broadcaster will begin immunotherapy next week.
“I’ve beaten melanoma. I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph node cancer. I’m four-for-four and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it five-for-five,” Vitale said in a statement, released through ESPN. “I am truly overwhelmed by the love, support, prayers and messages I’ve received from so many people. I’m incredibly blessed to have my family beside me, and my ESPN family – led by Chairman Jimmy Pitaro — has been absolutely terrific. Their support has inspired me to keep fighting and I will do everything in my power to win another battle.
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale on air before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena on March 8, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. Getty Images
“The best news I can share today is this: I feel fantastic.”
Vitale, 86, has been through several health issues, as he alluded to in his statement, dating back to 2021.
He was diagnosed with melanoma and lymphoma in 2021 and then dealt with vocal cord cancer in 2023 before announcing last year that he had been declared cancer-free.
Vitale, who has been with ESPN since its inception in 1979, returned to broadcasting college basketball last year and in his most recent TV appearance, he was part of the First Four broadcast of Texas and North Carolina State.
Vitale’s previous bouts with cancer have increasingly motivated him to help raise money for those going through their own battles, which he noted in his statement on Monday.
Dick Vitale (R) talks with college basketball analyst Jay Bilas before the game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Texas Longhorns at Spectrum Center on November 04, 2025. Getty Images
“At 86 years young, I’ve lived a hell of a life, and I’m more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer,” he continued. “No child should ever have to go through what I’ve experienced. I am grateful beyond words for all of the support I’ve received, and I’m already looking forward to this year’s annual Gala on May 1. I really feel we will raise $12 million to add to the $105 million we’ve already raised, all for pediatric cancer research.”
Vitale underwent a PET scan, a CAT scan and two MRI’s last week, with the results concerning his doctors, and led him to have a biopsy done on Friday.
The situation bothered Vitale enough that he had been asking his supporters to “hope & pray for good results” in a post on X.
In a post earlier in the day on Monday, Vitale said that he couldn’t sleep because he was “so worried about the report I will get on my biopsy I had on Friday.”
