Bryant Gumbel - Lung Cancer

[Palehorse]

CNN) -- Bryant Gumbel made an unexpected announcement Tuesday morning as a guest host on "Live! With Regis & Kelly." The host of HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" had surgery two months ago to remove a malignant tumor on his lung.

Gumbel, 61, appeared on the morning talk show to fill in for Regis Philbin, who recently underwent a successful hip surgery. Gumbel, a cigar smoker, brought up his surgery after chatting with co-host Kelly Ripa about his inability to dance.

"I can't," he said. "I have a note from my doctor."

The former "Today" show host explained to viewers that he has told few people about the surgery in which part of his lung was removed.

"They opened up my chest; they took a malignant tumor, part of my lung and some other goodies," he said. "The pathology on most of the stuff came back benign but enough aggressive cells had escaped the tumor that it warranted some treatment."

Gumbel kept the treatment close to the vest. "We had told a few people. We told my family, obviously," Gumbel said. "I even kept it from my staff at 'Real Sports.' ". . .

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/08/bryant.gumbel.lung.cancer/index.html

Yikes! This guy may have to go onto the dead listing soon. I've never known anyone to escape the grasp of the Lung C for very long. . . 

[Locutus]

I just saw this on Yahoo news when I logged out of the email.  Apparently he had some aggressive cells in there. 

Lung cancer is an ugly thing. 

[Palehorse]

I have personally known 4 people that have had it. Every single one of them succumbed within 12 months of the initial diagnosis, and 2 of them had the same surgery Gumbel had, followed by chemo. . . It is a particularly ugly version of the big C that is for sure!
(3 of them were life long non-smokers).

[Henry Hawk]

Peter Jennings died of lung cancer only four months after he announced being diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 67....

[Palehorse]

Peter Jennings died of lung cancer only four months after he announced being diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 67....

Yeah, it typically hits the victim hard and fast; with little mercy or compassion. I'd look for Gumbel to be gone before spring. . .

[Anne]

My father, father-in-law, uncle, and cousin all died from lung cancer. All were long time smokers. My father was the youngest at 52, the rest were in their late 60's or early 70's. My dad lived 9 months (1969) and he had cobalt treatments, got terribly burned. The rest were dead within three months. Lung cancer is one that has not had many advances in treatment like some of the other cancers. I hope Mr. Gumbel is an exception and has a complete recovery.

[Mr442]

My aunt had the upper lobe of her left lug removed last spring.  In spite of gettig a clean bill of health for a couple of months, she now has tumors on her trachea.  She is undergoing chemo, and will start radiation in a few weeks.  She is a fighter and will not give up, but surgery is no longer an option for her at 84 yeas old.  While they may get these new tumors under control, I figure it is a matter of time before more come along.  I really hope she dies in her sleep before things get too bad for her.