ESPN college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale announced Monday that he has been diagnosed with melanoma in his lung and liver cavity.
Vitale, 86, will soon start immunotherapy treatments. The legendary ESPN personality has been ravaged by health struggles in recent years, battling multiple forms of cancer.
“I’ve beaten melanoma. I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph node cancer,” Vitale said in a statement released via ESPN. “I’m four-for-four and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it five-for-five.”
Sharing a health update on behalf of @DickieV
Your ESPN family is with you every step of the way, Dick ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Uvoiv6dedN
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 13, 2026
Vitale has worked for ESPN since 1979, where he became the voice of men’s college hoops for generations of fans. His previous cancer diagnoses have sidelined him for nearly two full seasons starting in 2023, before he returned to the ESPN airwaves in February 2025.
ESPN hosted the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational in Charlotte this past November, featuring a non-conference game between Duke and Texas with Dickie V. on the call. Vitale also called his first-ever NCAA Tournament game for a U.S. audience last month when he was paired with Charles Barkley for one of the First Four play-in games on TruTV.
“I am truly overwhelmed by the love, support, prayers and messages l’ve received from so many people,” Vitale said in his statement on Monday. “The best news I can share today is this: I feel fantastic.”
Vitale has long been an advocate for cancer research, working with the V Foundation — founded by his friend, the late Jim Valvano — and working to raise money to fight pediatric cancer.
“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.”
Last year, ESPN announced a multi-year extension with Vitale through the 2027-28 college basketball season.
