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ESPN's Dick Vitale to 'keep fighting' after melanoma diagnosis

April 14th, 2026

ESPN Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale has announced he has melanoma in his lung and liver cavity and will be starting immunotherapy soon.

Vitale, one of the preeminent faces of men's college basketball, has battled four types of cancer in the past few years and most recently underwent surgery in the summer of 2024 after a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck showed cancer.

"I've beaten melanoma. I've beaten lymphoma. I've beaten vocal cord cancer. I've beaten lymph node cancer," Vitale, 86, said in a statement Monday. "I'm four-for-four and I'm fully confident I'm going to make it five-for-five."

Following a nearly a two-year break to deal with his health, Vitale returned to broadcasting in February of last year after announcing he was cancer-free.

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He just wrapped up his 46th year covering college basketball at ESPN.

"I am truly overwhelmed by the love, support, prayers and messages I've received from so many people" Vitale said. "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.

"The best news I can share today is this: I feel fantastic."

Vitale joined ESPN during the 1979-80 season, just after ESPN's launch, and called the network's first major NCAA basketball game on Dec. 5, 1979. He has gone on to call well over 1,000 games, and in September 2024, he was inducted into the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame.

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Suggested Reading

Vitale: Just Your Average Bald, One-Eyed Basketball Wacko Who Beat the Ziggy and Became a PTP'er

Dick Vitale's 1988 autobiography, co-written with Sports Illustrated's Curry Kirkpatrick, is a lively, energetic memoir that captures the colorful personality and improbable journey of the legendary basketball broadcaster known for his enthusiastic catchphrases and unbridled passion for the game. Vi...

Dick Vitale's Living a Dream: Reflections on 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House

In Dick Vitale's Living a Dream: Reflections on 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House, the legendary ESPN college basketball analyst looks back on his remarkable career broadcasting the sport he loves. Vitale recounts how he joined ESPN in 1979 after being fired as a coach, turning what cou...

Until My Last Breath: Fighting Cancer With My Young Heroes

In "Until My Last Breath: Fighting Cancer With My Young Heroes," legendary ESPN college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale delivers a heartfelt memoir that intertwines his own three-time battle with cancer and the inspiring stories of young pediatric cancer survivors who became his greatest sources ...

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