“I Need A Lot of Hugs”: Dick Vitale Is In the Fight of His Life

Vitale was crushed. Over the next few days, he underwent further scans and a biopsy. On April 13, his doctor gave him confirmation that he had melanoma in his lungs and liver cavity. They developed an immediate plan for him to undergo immunotherapy.

“I was so shook up. I just couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I was a basket case, to be honest with you. A lot of tears, a lot of emotion. I mean, those are the two major organs. This is not fun and games. I’ve got a battle on my hands. I’m gonna fight, I’m gonna do everything I can, and I hope it all works out.”

This is the fifth time in the last five years that the iconic ESPN broadcaster has been told he has cancer. In 2021, he was diagnosed with melanoma and lymphoma; in 2023 he was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer; and in 2024 he was treated for lymph node cancer. He was sidelined or nearly two years following his bout with vocal cord cancer, but he finally returned to the mic for ESPN in February 2025. His workload last winter was reduced significantly, but he was able to broadcast games throughout the season. He also called his first NCAA Tournament game on television with Charles Barkley. Those games are his best medicine, and Vitale has long said he hopes to keep broadcasting until he is physically unable to. 

Throughout every ordeal, Vitale has provided detailed updates on social media. He intends to do the same this time around. That has coincided with the core mission of Vitale’s life, which is to raise money to fund research for pediatric cancer. His Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Fund has raised over $100 million the last 20 years. The centerpiece is an annual spring gala in Sarasota, which will held on May 1. 

“I’m transparent for two reasons,” he said. “One is the mail and the letters and all the messages I get. But the bigger one for me, from a selfish point of view, is that it has helped me raise unbelievable dollars for kids battling cancer.”

In the wake of his diagnosis, Vitale has heard from countless friends like Arkansas coach John Calipari, who not only told Vitale he changed his schedule so he can come to this year’s gala, but that he is also bringing his deep-pocketed friend, John Tyson, the Chairman of Tyson Foods, and making a generous six-figure donation to boot. “He’s got a heart of gold, man,” Vitale said. “People can knock him all they want. He’s a special person.”

Among Vitale’s favorite messages was the one that came over Instagram from Emily Ayers, a 14-year-old girl who first met Vitale when she was diagnosed with cancer six years ago. Now cancer free, Emily is a perennial member of Vitale’s “All-Courageous Kids” team that is honored at every gala. “Mr. Vitale, I can’t even begin to explain what you mean to me, us kids, and soo many people!!” she wrote. “I just want you to know that all of us kids are suporting you along the way just like you have and continue to do for all of us!”

“It really, realy choked me up,” Vitale said.

Another meaningful text message came from his ESPN colleague Holly Rowe, who underwent immunotherapy several years ago to help her overcome stage IV desmoplastic melanoma. “She gave me some good advice, which was whenever you take a treatment, don’t just lie down in bed. Walk around and keep the medicine flowing to reduce side effects,” Vitale said. “She said her basic side effect was a rash and some aches. I can live with all that if it’s going to wipe out the cancer.”

There’s never a good time to receive such devastating news, but Vitale is grateful that all of this is happening so close to this year’s event. This year’s gala will honor Geno Auriemma, Katie Couric, Kelvin Sampson, Jamie Valvano and Tom Izzo. Vitale predicts this will be his most successful gala ever. “We are going to have record numbers,” he promised. “Our celebrities don’t get a dime for coming. I’m dedicated now more than ever because of what I’ve been through. Cancer is hell. I hope you never have to deal with it. I hate that f—— disease and what it does to kids. No child should go through this. That’s what gets me motivated.”

Vitale has already begun his immunotherapy treatments. The day after his first one, he experienced debilitating side effects, but he felt better on day two. His doctors agreed to postpone his next treatment until after the gala, but they will resume them as soon as that is over. 

Vitale is not sure how long he will need the treatments. “We didn’t get a timetable. It depends on how I react to them. Everybody’s different,” he said. He was floored when his doctor told him that each treatment, which takes about 40 minutes as the medicine is ingested intravenously, costs $31,000. “That’s how powerful the medicine is. Fortunately, I’ve got great insurance, but I wonder what happens to people that don’t have that.”

When Vitale was diagnosed a few weeks ago, he asked his doctors if he really needed to undergo such vigorous treatment. “I said, can’t we just forget all these scans? I’m feeling great. I’m 86 years old. Maybe I could live another two, three, four years with this stuff,” he said. “They stopped me right away. They said, ‘Dick, if you don’t get the treatment, you’ll be gone in months.’ So yeah, I’ve got no choice. We’re trying to control it from spreading.”

For all of his life, Vitale has been famously upbeat, but he is also not afraid to be vulnerable. There have been many times during his cancer bouts where his spirits have flagged. He relies on his massive army of family, friends and strangers to prop him up and keep him going. That will continue to be the case in the difficult months ahead.

“You don’t have to be a genius to know that I’m really in a battle. It’s as simple as can be,” he said. “I hate to say it, but this one has beaten me up. This is frightening. Tell people, I need a lot of hugs if they see me. The motto I’ve always shared with cancer patients is to think positive and have faith. Now I gotta apply it to myself.”