Lakewood Ranch's Dick Vitale finishes final cancer treatment

Surrounded by nurses at Sarasota Memorial Radiation Oncology Center, Lakewood Ranch's Dick Vitale was ready. 

"Let's get this last one done," Vitale said.

The nurses helped him settle onto the radiation therapy table for his final treatment in his latest battle with cancer Sept. 20. 

From the moment Vitale walked into Sarasota Memorial Radiation Oncology Center, he was all smiles. 

Tina Hall, the radiation oncology manager, greeted him and said, "It's a big day."

In July after being told one of the 24 lymph nodes that were removed during a neck dissection still had cancerous features, Vitale had to fight once again.

Vitale already underwent treatment for melanoma, lymphoma and vocal cord cancer. 

On Sept. 20, the 85-year-old college broadcaster, used the voice he regained to express his gratitude for all those who stood by his side during his latest battle. 

He said the support of his wife, Lorraine, and daughters, Sherri Vitale Krug and Terri Vitale, as well as his fans has been incredible. 

With tears in his eyes, Vitale recalled sitting in a hospital room at Sarasota Memorial Hospital alone while his wife and daughters had to step away. 

He said it was a dark time as he questioned whether it would be the last time he would see his family. The chemotherapy was knocking him down. 

All of a sudden, he received messages from basketball coaches Rick Barnes and John Calipari telling him to keep fighting. 

It reminded him of late college basketball coach and broadcaster Jim Valvano's message: "Don't give up. Don't ever give up."

So Vitale didn't.

Photo by Liz Ramos

After the 5-minute session of radiation therapy, Vitale asked for the team of nurses and medical professionals from the cancer center to take a photo with him to capture the momentous occasion in his cancer journey. 

Every day, no matter the type cancer, Vitale has chosen to live by the motto of "think positive and have faith."

When staff from the cancer center presented Vitale with a rock to take home as a celebration of his final radiation treatment, he smiled as he read it.

The rock, painted in blue with a silver broadcaster microphone, read "Think positive and have faith."

Vitale said this round of treatment has tested his positivity and faith as it has been tougher than past treatments. He said the radiation was more intense than previous times and caused more side effects including exhaustion, loss of taste, aches and skin irritation. 

"The radiation and chemotherapy just beat me up, but I'm getting stronger," he said.

After every radiation treatment, Vitale said he would have breakfast, sleep for three to four hours, exercise and get out of the house by going to dinner with his wife.

Going out helped keep his mind off the cancer. 

Vitale said his final radiation treatment being less than a week before the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame awards ceremony, where he will be honored, in New York, made him unsure whether he'd be able to attend.

He said he's ready to put a band-aid on the skin irritations on his neck and put on his suit to appear at the awards Sept. 26. 

Photo by Liz Ramos

Although he underwent his final treatment, Vitale said he won't be able to have a scan done to determine whether he is cancer free for another two months as the inflammation from the radiation will need to reduce. 

"I'm hoping, I'm praying for the words that every cancer patient wants to hear and for the doctor to look me in the eye and say, 'You are cancer free,'" Vitale said. "To me, that would be like winning a national championship, cutting down the nets, winning a Super Bowl."

Matthew Biagioli, Vitale's radiation oncologist, said Vitale's "outlook looks really good" and the positron emission tomography scan is expected to be clean. 

Finishing his latest treatment has left Vitale feeling empowered to continue raising money for pediatric cancer, especially as September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 

Vitale and the V Foundation for Cancer Research have raised $92.9 million for pediatric cancer research. 

He said his goal is to reach $100 million this year, and he has no doubts it'll be reached. 

"I'm 85 years old, and I've lived a blessed life," he said. "I feel, more than ever, inspired to raise money for kids battling cancer because no child should have to go through these scans, radiation and chemotherapy."