ESPN’s Dick Vitale Diagnosed With Vocal Cord Cancer

LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL — ESPN’s Dick Vitale is battling vocal cord cancer after initially being diagnosed with precancerous dysplasia.

He will undergo six weeks of radiation treatment Monday through Friday, the college basketball analyst shared on his Facebook page.

“I face a tough battle to get my voice back to where I can do what I love sitting at courtside for ESPN & calling college games,” the Lakewood Ranch, Florida, resident wrote in a post. “The good news is that I feel physically terrific (and) will do all I can to win this battle. (My doctor) is optimistic that if we can get the disease removed by the radiation he can get me ready for the 2023-24 season.”

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This is the iconic sportscaster’s third battle with cancer. Vitale was diagnosed with lymphoma in October 2021 and was treated at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s new Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute Oncology Tower with steroids and chemotherapy.

During the summer of that year, he had multiple surgeries to remove melanoma.

He thanked his fans, family, friends and peers for their prayers and encouragement as he faces his latest health issues.

“I am so blessed (and) inspired by all the love you have passed my way,” Vitale wrote, adding, “The college basketball landscape has been so caring (and) certainly the media (and) all the fans have reached out with so much love. … Your words of encouragement (have) really inspired me to give my best to win this third battle with various cancers. I can promise that I will fight with everything I have to win. I must get back talking so I can reach out to potential donors to help kids fighting this vicious disease.

Vitale runs a nonprofit organization, The V Foundation, which focuses on cancer research.