Dick Vitale is cancer free.
The legendary college basketball broadcaster, who has dealt with four bouts of cancer since first being diagnosed in 2021, shared the happy news on social media Thursday.
“SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER ! OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your (prayer emojis),” Vitale wrote on X. “Yes I’m cutting the nets down baby it’s my National Championship!”
Last week, Vitale said he was set for an important check-up on his cancer status.
“Many ask about my status -Dec 12 I have a full body scan that will determine if cancer free,” Vitale wrote. “(Prayer emojis) for good news as I feel terrific but have lots of anxiety about the exam. Cancer patients I’m sure know that feeling.”
The announcement comes months after Vitale, 85, underwent successful surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck in July.
Vitale missed the entire 2023-24 college basketball season while dealing with vocal cord cancer.
He said in June that he was optimistic about getting back in the booth this fall.
Vitale has yet to call a game for ESPN this season, although the most recent update is a good sign for his chances at getting back in the announcing chair.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer’s first confrontation with cancer came more than three years ago when he was diagnosed with melanoma and, later that year, lymphoma.
In November 2021, Vitale made an emotional return to the college basketball booth, his first broadcast since his first cancer diagnosis.
Vitale called the first-ever college basketball broadcast on ESPN’s airwaves and has been a mainstay at the network since its inception in 1979.
