Dick Vitale Keeps Fighting After Fifth Cancer Diagnosis
April 24, 2026
Having successfully defeated cancer four times already, Dick Vitale announced this month that he is facing his fifth battle with the disease caused by abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. The 86-year-old Hall of Fame ESPN broadcaster is highly active on social media and shared the news with hundreds-of-thousands of Instagram and Facebook followers that he would be starting immunotherapy after a PET scan, MRIs, and a recent biopsy confirmed the melanoma had spread to his lung and liver cavity.
Despite evidence that the skin cancer had metastasized to distant organs, which typically classifies melanoma as Stage IV, Vitale says he feels fine and expressed full confidence that he will indeed beat cancer for a fifth time. After all, the highly-popular college basketball commentator was diagnosed with the deadliest form of skin cancer for the first time in 2021 and has since beaten episodes of lymphoma, vocal cord cancer, and lymph node cancer. So once again, he intends to up his score with his medical team’s efforts and vowed to make it five-for-five.
The New Jersey native, who had spent his early years coaching high school basketball and winning two state championships, became an assistant coach at Rutgers before assuming the head coach position at the University of Detroit. After the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network was launched in September 1979 as the first 24-hour, 7 days-a-week cable sports network, Vitale was hired to call ESPN’s first-ever college basketball game. With close to five decades in the chair, Vitale says he expects to keep his contract going through the 2028 season.
Without doubt, Dick Vitale has established himself as one of the most charismatic broadcasters in American sports history with countless memorable calls on college hardwood courts. But don’t think he is planning on slowing down. The 21st Dick Vitale Gala will take place May 1 at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota with its mission to raise money for the V Foundation’s Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund that has raised over $105 million. The V Foundation was founded in 1993 as the legacy of legendary basketball coach Jim Valvano (and ESPN) featuring Valvano’s infamous motto for cancer victims: “Don’t Give Up... Don’t Ever Give Up.”
Only silenced once by the skin cancer that spread through his body, Vitale was unable to speak after vocal cord surgery that removed cancerous lymph nodes from his neck. “Once again a popular celebrity has shared their skin cancer story, which is a powerful reminder to their fans about the importance of early detection of melanoma,” says Dr. Michael Steppie Orlando Mohs surgeon and medical director of Associates in Dermatology. “While it is less common than basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma is more dangerous because of its ability to rapidly spread if not treated at an early stage.”
NOTE: ESPN actively remains a key partner, as Jim Valvano passed away just weeks after his announcement of the V Foundation that reflected his commitment and determination to raise money for cancer research. To date, his legacy has raised over $310 million for grants awarded through a strict peer-reviewed process supervised by the Scientific Advisory Committee.
Is melanoma the worst skin cancer?
While melanoma is less common, it is significantly more dangerous and accounts for about 75% of all skin cancer fatalities. If not diagnosed and treated early, melanoma can spread rapidly from the skin to other organs. Ultra violet (UV) radiation that naturally comes from sunlight as well as indoor tanning devices is the primary culprit. Whereas the average age of diagnosis is 65, melanoma is still prevalent in adults under 30, especially for younger people with fair skin or a weakened immune system.
Although melanoma most often occurs on sun-exposed areas like the face, arms, back, and legs, it is important to monitor hidden areas of the body including your scalp and nails. Some of the lesser seen types of melanoma can go unnoticed for a long time, and then suddenly spread internally to the lymph nodes and onto other organs. With that said, it is crucial for everyone regardless of age, sex or skin color to watch for red flags, such as rapid changes in the size, shape or color of a new or existing mole and seek medical attention immediately for such changes.
Tips to Check for Late Stage Melanoma
When checking if melanoma has spread, cancer specialists first examine the lymph nodes closest to the originally affected skin. If the cancer has reached these nodes, you might feel a noticeable lump under your skin, often in the neck, armpit, or groin. However, it is important to remember that Stage IV melanoma presents differently for everyone. You might experience these exact signs, entirely different symptoms, or no noticeable symptoms at all:
- Spread to Lymph Nodes: unexplained swollen lymph nodes
- Spread to the Lungs: unexplained shortness of breath and persistent cough
- Spread to the Brain: unexplained worsening of headaches or seizures
- Spread to the Liver: unexplained loss of weight or decrease in appetite
- Spread to the Bones: unexplained pain in your bones
If a patient is diagnosed with melanoma, a surgical oncologist will stage the cancer to determine how far it has progressed and develop a targeted treatment plan. In addition, CT and MRI scans may be used for routine surveillance following surgery, chemotherapy and radiation for high-risk melanoma. If left untreated, melanoma can spread rapidly. Moreover, melanoma can appear on the nails and areas of skin that is not normally exposed to UV sunlight.
NOTE: Nodular melanoma is also a highly dangerous form of melanoma that looks different from more common types of this skin cancer. Nodular lesions are usually a discolored, firm but raised growth that may look like a blood blister.
Celebrities Stories About Stage IV Melanoma
Sometimes, melanoma advances to Stage IV, meaning it has indeed spread beyond the original site of occurrence. This can also happen when the cancer returns months or years after the person’s original diagnosis and treatment of the disease. On the other hand, Stage IV melanoma may be your initial diagnosis due to its slow but steady progression. As other celebrities mentioned below have learned the hard way, melanoma can reappear near the original surgical scar (satellite metastases), or spread to nearby lymph nodes, subcutaneous tissue or a distant organ like the brain, liver, lungs, intestines, and bones.
Bob Marley’s Tragic Death from Toenail Melanoma
Melanoma doesn't only appear on sun-exposed skin, which means the disease can easily go unnoticed. A tragic and well-known example of this is the story of reggae legend Bob Marley, which was recently highlighted in the biographical film One Love. Marley was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), a rare form of skin cancer that developed under his toenail. Because his Rastafarian beliefs prohibited the removal of any body part, he declined his doctor's recommendation to amputate his big toe. Instead, he opted for excisional surgery to remove the nail, the nail bed, and the surrounding cancerous tissue, followed by a skin graft from his thigh. Unfortunately, the cancer continued to spread, and Marley passed away four years later at the age of 36. Even though the overall risk is lower for People of Color, this aggressive disease can (and does) affect people of all skin tones and all races.
Teddi Mellencamp’s Battle with Stage IV Melanoma
Teddi Mellencamp shared an incredibly emotional moment at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, fighting back tears as she presented the Icon Award to her father, 74-year-old John "Cougar" Mellencamp. For the 44-year-old reality star, this milestone comes amidst a grueling battle with Stage IV melanoma. Originally diagnosed in 2022, her cancer journey has been intensely challenging, with the disease eventually spreading to her lungs and brain. The road to recovery has been far from easy, as Teddi has undergone 17 melanoma surgeries, which included the removal of numerous cancerous spots. In February 2025, a frightening turn of events led to emergency surgery to remove Stage IV tumors from her brain, symptoms that she had initially brushed off as severe migraines. Fast forward to 2026, and the updates are very positive. Teddi reports that she is currently "doing well" with "no detectable cancer" following immunotherapy.
Jerry Jones a Ten-Year Stage IV Melanoma Survivor
In August 2025, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones revealed a personal secret that he became a 10-year survivor of Stage IV melanoma. The 82-year-old kept his battle with cancer private for over a decade before finally sharing his story in the Netflix documentary series, America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys. First diagnosed in June 2010, Jones faced a grueling medical journey that included four different surgeries, including procedures on his lungs and lymph nodes. He ultimately credits his survival to a pioneering PD-1 immunotherapy trial at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. This treatment, which helps the immune system attack cancer cells, was highly experimental at the time but has since become a standard of care for advanced melanoma. Today, Jones is completely tumor-free and noted that his involvement with the NFL and his Dallas Cowboys provided him with a highly-positive, motivating atmosphere to push through the most difficult moments of his treatment regimen.
IN SUMMARY
Depending on the depth and size of a melanoma, the dermatologist may refer the patient to a surgical oncologist or cancer center to determine a treatment protocol that may include surgical removal, chemotherapy and radiation. Plus, patients participating in clinical trials have proven it to be beneficial, particularly for those using experimental medications or procedures before they were made available to the general public.
While Mohs surgery offers a cure for some people, this stage of melanoma cancer is not usually considered 100% curable; but newer treatments are allowing patients to achieve significant remission of late-stage metastatic cancer. Nonetheless, these latest melanoma treatment options are indeed designed to help people live longer and feel better, by making it a manageable chronic illness where they can live for months or years.
According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for Stage IV melanoma is 35%. While Stage IV melanoma cannot be completely cured, modern treatments aim to control the disease for as long as possible. Today many patients live for years after an advanced diagnosis, by using the latest imaging to identify and treat melanoma that has metastasized, especially early after its spread to other parts of their bodies.
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Catching melanoma early significantly improves survival chances. That’s why experts today recommend performing a monthly self-exam using the “ABCDE” (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, and Evolving) method to evaluate suspicious moles and lesions. If a spot looks or feels abnormal, it is time to schedule an exam with a dermatologist immediately. When caught early, a surgeon can usually remove the melanoma along with a margin of healthy skin and close the wound with sutures or a skin graft if needed. If you notice anything unusual, call 800-827-7546 or schedule an annual skin exam online for one of Associates in Dermatology’s sixteen Central Florida offices in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Celebration, Clermont, Davenport, Dr. Philips, Hunter's Creek, Kissimmee, Mount Dora, Ocoee, Poinciana, or St. Cloud.
