Dick Vitale is cancer free.
The legendary college basketball broadcaster, who has dealt with four bouts of cancer since first bౠeing diagnosed in 2021, shared the happy news on social media Thursday.
“SA💟NTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CAN𝓡CER ! OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your [prayer emojis],” Vitale . “Yes I’m cutting the nets down baby it’s my National Championship!”
Last week, Vitale said he was set for an imp🧔ortant check-up on his cancer status.
“Many ask about my status -Dec 12 I have a full body scan that will determine if cancer free,” Vitale wrote. “[Prayer emojis] for gooಌd news as I feel terrific but have lots of anxiety about the exam. Cancer patients I’m ༺sure know that feeling.”
The announcement comes months after Vitale, 85, underwent successful surgery to remove cancerous ly⛦mph nodes from hi🦩s neck in July.
Vitale missed the entire 2023-24 college basketball season while dealing with vocal cord cancer.
He said in June that he was optimistic aဣbout getting back in the booth this fall.
💯Vitale has yet to call a game for ESPN this season, though the most recent update is a good sign for his chances at getting back in the announcing chair.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer’s first battle wi🧸th cancer came more than three years ago when he was dia🤡gnosed with melanoma and, later that year, lymphoma.
In November 2021, Vitale made an emotional return to the college basketball boඣoth, his first broadcast si🎃nce his initial cancer diagnosis.
Vitale called t🀅he first college basketball game broadcast on ESPN and has been a mainstay at the network since its in♏ception in 1979.