College basketball broadcasting legend Dick Vitale has been battling various forms of cancer over the last few years. The 86-year-old ESPN analyst has to get regular checkups to see if his various cancers have returned, and in an update on Monday, he revealed that he is still cancer free.
“Positive news today after my scoping & examination by Dr Steven Zeitels in Boston . He said my vocal cords are the same as last exam CANCER FREE🙏🙏🙏 answered!” Tweeted Dick Vitale.
Positive news today after my scoping & examination by Dr Steven Zeitels in Boston . He said my vocal cords are the same as last exam CANCER FREE🙏🙏🙏 answered! pic.twitter.com/2ylIFUIEDn
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) July 7, 2025
In 2021, the veteran broadcaster was diagnosed with melanoma, but was announced cancer free later that same year. However, he got diagnosed with lymphoma in October that same year, but announced that he was cancer free again almost one year later.
In 2023, he was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer, and in 2024, he revealed he was then found with lymph node cancer. These made him take a break from broadcasting, until January this year where he announced that he was once again cancer free, He returned to broadcasting in February, and in March, just ahead of March Madness, said he wants to call games again next season.
Dick Vitale broke down in tears when he said he hopes he can still call college games next season
Dick Vitale’s goal is slowly coming true, but back in March when he called the ACC Tournament championship game, he got emotional and said in tears that he truly wishes he could call games again next year.
“It’s my last game this year and I’m praying, hoping I can be back next year, maybe even be better, hope and pray my doctor helps me with my voice. I have to listen to my doctor. Right now, he told me voice rest right after this game for a week,” he said. “I want to thank all of the fans, all of the people who have been so beautiful, all my people at ESPN tolerating and putting up with me in terms of issues I’ve had. You’ve been great. Jimmy Pitaro, David Seisler, Mike McQuaide, all of you have been so good to me. I can’t thank you enough.”
Vitale made sure this would happen by signing an extension with ESPN that will make sure that he will be working with them until after the 2027-28 season. This new cancer-free diagnosis is seen as a step in the right direction for the veteran broadcaster, as it ensures he reaches his goal of continuing to call college basketball games.
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