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College basketball icon, broadcaster Dick Vitale announces he has vocal cord cancer – NBC News
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College basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale announced Wednesday he has been diagnosed with vocal cord cancer but told fans he’s optimistic about returning to the mic this year.
Vitale, 84, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, had surgery in Boston this week, and tests showed he has vocal cord cancer, he said in a statement.
Vitale said that while he was “disappointed with the pathology report,” he plans to undergo six weeks of radiation treatment that could get him back to press row.
“I plan to fight like hell to be ready to call games when the college hoops season kicks off in the fall,” he said.
His doctor has told him that this cancer has “an extremely high cure rate and that radiation, not more surgery, is the best path,” he added.
Vitale has battled the disease before, having previously been diagnosed with melanoma and bile duct cancer.
When he returned to the microphone on Nov. 23, 2021, he broke down in tears thanking fans for all of their support.
Vitale thanked loved ones and fans again for their upbeat vibes Thursday.
“Yes, your words of encouragement has really inspired me to give my best to win this 3rd battle with various cancers,” he wrote on Facebook. “I can promise that I will fight with everything I have to win.”
David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
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