Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s New Oncology Center Treats ESPN’s Dick Vitale For Cancer

SARASOTA, FL — ESPN’s Dick Vitale is being treated for cancer at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute Oncology Tower, which opened Monday.

The college basketball analyst shared on Twitter that he began chemotherapy treatment at the new cancer center Tuesday morning.

He was diagnosed with lymphoma in October, according to ESPN. He plans to treat his cancer with six months of steroids and chemotherapy.

It’s his second battle with cancer in months. Vitale previously had multiple surgeries during the summer to remove melanoma, he announced in August.

The sportscaster tweeted about the “fantastic nursing staff” at Sarasota Memorial Hospital Tuesday and asked fans to “keep those (prayers) rolling.”

The 82-year-old Lakewood Ranch resident shared Monday that “if all goes well, my doctors said that they would clear me to do what I love, call games on (ESPN between) chemo treatments.”

Sarasota Memorial’s new $193 million oncology tower, located at 1700 S. Tamiami Trail at the hospital’s Sarasota campus, opened its doors for the first time Monday and expands the SMH’s cancer program.

The eight-story cancer center offers 180,000 square feet dedicated to both in-patient care and surgical treatment, according to the Sarasota Memorial website. It includes 56 private suites, a family center, nine operating rooms, onsite integrative cancer care, a rooftop café and juice bar, and onsite oncology pharmacy and bedside prescription delivery service.