ESPN’s Dick Vitale has endured three bouts with cancer over the past two years, keeping the legendary college basketball broadcaster off television for much of that stretch. In December, Vitale announced that he is cancer-free and intends to make another comeback.
He continues to rest his vocal cords, which recently required surgery due to affects of the radiation treatments he received for cancer.
“It will take more time before I get the strength back in my voice,” Vitale told USA TODAY via text. “The 35 radiation treatments I had for my vocal cord cancer wiped out the cancer but created some problems to my vocal cords.”
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If recovery goes according to plan, Vitale is shooting for a return to the microphone for the 2024–25 season.
“I miss so much the entire college spirit at the games as I always love being able to share time with the players, coaches, fans, media and especially my ESPN colleagues,” he said.
Vitale was previously treated for melanoma and lymphoma, both in ’21. He also has gone through a rash of vocal cord issues, including surgery for dysplasia that same year. He missed time calling games during the 2021–22 season but returned to ESPN the following season before missing 2023–24.
If the title of his new book, written with sportswriter Scott Gleeson, is any indication, Vitale has no intention of letting health challenges end his broadcasting career before he’s absolutely ready.
The new book is titled Until My Last Breath: Fighting Cancer With My Young Heroes, and it touches on Vitale’s experience in dealing with cancer alongside a group of children that he calls his “All-Courageous Team.”
