Legendary ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale updated about his health on Friday. The 86-year-old Hall of Famer announced that he has completed the first round of immunotherapy to combat his fifth cancer diagnosis.
Vitale shared pictures from a hospital bed at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMHCS) on X.
“First immunotherapy treatment is history / have a fantastic team at @SMHCS that is helping me at this tough time dealing with Melanoma lung – liver cancer – I feel confident they will get me a big W!” Vitale tweeted.
The update comes just four days after Vitale first went public with the news that biopsy results had confirmed melanoma in his lung and liver cavity. It has been a marathon of health challenges for the former college basketball and NBA coach.
Vitale has struggled with multiple health issues in the past few years, including Initial Melanoma (2021), Lymphoma (2021), Vocal Cord Cancer (2023), and Lymph Node Cancer (2024).
Despite these back-to-back hurdles, which included times when he was forced to communicate via an eraser board due to vocal cord surgery, Vitale returned to the studio in February 2025. He called games in the 2026 NCAA tournament.
Vitale told ESPN earlier this week that he is currently 4-for-4 against cancer and is fully confident he will make it 5-for-5.
Also Read: “Tip the hat to DUSTY MAY”: Vitale celebrates Michigan after gritty win over Dan Hurley’s UConn seals historic championship
Also Read: Dick Vitale rips into college basketball’s ‘wackiness,’ calls out transfer culture & unfair firings of Hubert Davis and Bobby Hurley
Dick Vitale is gearing up for the Dick Vitale Gala
Even while undergoing treatment, Vitale continues to do his part for pediatric cancer research. He is preparing for the 21st Annual Dick Vitale Gala on May 1 in Sarasota. The event has raised over $105 million over the past two decades and aims to cross the $120 million mark this year.
“At 86 years young, I’ve lived a hell of a life, and I’m more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer,” Vitale said. “No child should ever have to go through what I’ve experienced.”
The 2026 honoree class features 12-time NCAA champion Geno Auriemma, legendary journalist Katie Couric, and Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson. The evening will also recognize Michigan State’s Tom Izzo with the Dick Vitale Spirit Award and Jamie Valvano with the John Saunders Courage Award.
Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, or Kim Mulkey – who is NCAAW’s highest-paid coach? Find out here
Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
