Dick Vitale, battling melanoma, plans to 'win another battle'

Field Level Media|published: Mon 13th April, 22:37 2026

Legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale greets the rest of the broadcasting table during the first half of an NCAA Mens basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, February 1, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Dick Vitale will soon begin immunotherapy to treat melanoma in his lung and liver cavity, the legendary ESPN college basketball analyst announced on Monday.

It's the latest in a series of health challenges for Vitale, 86.

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

Vitale, a former college basketball coach, has called games on ESPN since the 1979-80 season. He was sidelined for almost two seasons because of health problems before returning to work in February, at which point he stated he was cancer-free.

Vitale said Monday, "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.

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

Vitale was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame in 2024.

--Field Level Media

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