Dick Vitale gives encouraging health update, says his vocal chords are still cancer-free after latest exam

Dick Vitale said his vocal chords are once again cancer-free.

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 15: ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale talks to the Cameron Crazies before the game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Stanford Cardinal at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 15, 2025 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Dick Vitale is still cancer-free, he announced Monday. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Grant Halverson via Getty Images

Legendary college-basketball announcer Dick Vitale is feeling great after his latest medical exam. Vitale announced Monday that the latest examination of his vocal chords came back cancer-free.

Vitale, 86, made the announcement on X, saying he once again was deemed cancer-free by his doctor.

That's a significant update from Vitale, who has dealt with multiple forms of cancer over the past couple years. In 2021, he announced he was cancer-free after being diagnosed with melanoma earlier that year.

That October, Vitale was diagnosed with lymphoma. A little under a year later, he announced he was cancer-free. In 2023, Vitale revealed he was diagnosed with vocal chord cancer, and in 2024, he announced he was dealing with lymph node cancer

After taking nearly two years away from broadcasting, Vitale announced he was once again cancer-free in January. A month later, he returned to broadcasting, and got emotional when talking about how much it meant for him to be back calling games.

During his final broadcast in March, Vitale again got emotional, saying he hoped to return to calling games next season. A few months later, he signed an extension to keep him at ESPN through the 2027-28 season. 

Monday's news provides yet another positive update for Vitale, who will look to continue to be one of college basketball's biggest voices when he returns to the broadcast booth next year.

Category: General Sports