Bryant Gumbel: I Have Lung Cancer

(AP)  Bryant Gumbel shocked a television audience with the news that he's recovering from cancer surgery and treatment.

The former "Today" show anchor, 61, said a malignant tumor and part of his lung were removed two months ago. He revealed his condition to Kelly Ripa while subbing for Regis Philbin on Tuesday's edition of "Live With Regis and Kelly." (Philbin recently had hip replacement surgery.)

"It's nothing to hide from," Gumbel said. "They opened up my chest, they took out a malignant tumor, they took out part of my lung and they took out some other goodies."

Even with the surgery, some aggressive cancer cells had escaped, "so I went through some treatment and it's done now," he said.

The tumor was not in Gumbel's lung, but next to it, said Sean Cassidy, a friend of Gumbel's and president of DKC, a New York public relations firm. Gumbel is not a smoker, he said.

Gumbel said he and his wife, Hilary Quinlan, had wanted to keep the news private. He said he had even kept his staff at the HBO sports newsmagazine "Real Sports" in the dark. HBO said Gumbel didn't miss an episode, taping shows on both Sept. 15 and Oct. 27.

"We hope," he said. "We HOPE, it's over."

Gumbel was host of "Today" for 15 years, ending in 1997, as the show became a ratings juggernaut. He worked first with Jane Pauley, briefly with Deborah Norville, then with Katie Couric. He moved to CBS for a prime-time newsmagazine. After that did poorly, he moved back to the mornings, hosting "The Early Show" from 1999-2002.

He's receded from the public eye since then, concentrating on "Real Sports," an Emmy-winning monthly magazine that takes a newsy look at sports issues.

Until he was called out by Ripa, there's some question about whether Gumbel's health news would still be under wraps. At the opening of Tuesday's show, Ripa told Gumbel that "you just made me almost faint."

The two had been talking backstage and Ripa mentioned that she wanted to dance with him to accompany a segment with a woman who dances for exercise. Gumbel demurred, and when Ripa pushed it, he said he was not allowed to dance. Then he told her the reason, she said.

Gumbel said he's meeting with his surgeon and oncologist next week and hopes to be cleared to play golf.



Disney-ABC Domestic Television distributes "Live! With Regis and Kelly." HBO is owned by Time Warner Inc.

[mikinzlala]

So Mr white hater (but not white women) has a disease caused by inhaling brown plant created cancer?? I love the irony.. How many white doctors repaired him?? Probably no one.. By the way, no one stops Blacks from participating in winter sports, but I'm sure they would surpass everyone if they did...maybe it's...just too "white" all dem snows and ices

[jojolesinge]

Ok guys we know what causes some of the cancers. Pollution is one of them. We are all exposed and not everybody's immune system can adapt. Smoke is a known carcinogen, why risk your body and the people around you! 1st its your immunity factor, then the place you live can be polluted, then your job may be hazardous where you ignore safety, you smoke on top of it these all increase your chances. The North East has the highest cancer rate in the nation, I remember as a kid passing through New York City and the NJ area (around 1985) the air stunk from pollution, I went back 10 yrs later and it seemed a lot better but still you could smell it in parts. If there was a vaccine for cancer, would you still want to breathe air that smells bad? final thoughts from the news.....The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday issued a groundbreaking endangerment finding, ending years of controversy by finally admitting that greenhouse gases pose a significant threat to human health and can be regulated under the existing Clean Air Act. "like we didn't know this already"

[lloydbest1]

"The tumor was not in Gumbel's lung, but next to it, said Sean Cassidy, a friend of Gumbel's and president of DKC, a New York public relations firm. Gumbel is not a smoker, he said."

Unless Cassidy is mistaken this should clear up any specualtion about Bryant's tobacco habit.

[helensuedell]

It must why God gave us 2 lungs. MY brother lost one lung and still
has diffuculty with breathing. For years he worked with dymamite and
blasting rock ( where gravel comes from) He is 78 and has his diffucult
days. It is quite frightening not knowing if your next breath is. He
never smoked but asphalt dust is probably worse.

[jasperlily]

bubbadubba
Feel better now, do ya? So glad you've never done anything detrimental to yourself or anybody else. The sanctimonious are so boring.

carefulobserver
He doesn't need to disclose anything. His business isn't your business, in the first place. Since we all know what smoking does to a person, it is sufficient that we, ourselves, don't smoke. I'm so sick and tired of sanctimonious people who delight in thinking they have been appointed judge over everyone else.

[dpwolfe67]

Our prayers and thoughts go to you and your family and for a full & complete recovery!!!

[dpwolfe67]

How do you know it was deliberately left out did you write the article? You need to get a life...

[cattiej]

If he wanted to keep his health condition private, he sure picked the wrong person to tell his condition to. Ripa seems to us that she couldn't keep a secret if her life depended on it. The women doesn't know the meaning of the term, "Keep Quiet". We don't watch the Regis show because of first Kathy Lee and now Ripa...why doesn't Regis get a co-host that isn't a barracudda? What a waste of time that show is. Mr. Gumbel, believe in your God, fight the good fight, keep the faith. We will pray you have complete recovery and you will continue to have a good life.

[bubbadubba]

Was smoking worth it Bryant?
I notice this coverage left out that Gumbel is a smoker and apparently can't read either since it says clearly in bold letters on tobacco products that they cause cancer.
I hope he is fine but he did this to himself unlike many people with cancer who did nothing known to cause it.

[dpwolfe67]

Listen bubbadubba... May cause cancer big difference bubblehead... My cousin's husband never smoked a day in his life and died of lung cancer (go figure)... Was there a lable on the air he breathed that said don't breathe it causes cancer? I think not... So before you go saying crap to people who have cancer whatever the reason or the cause you think it to be keep your comment to yourself... I am a cancer survivor and I smoke myself... It is very hard habit to break but I am trying... If you live in a glass house you shouldn't throw stones... Your whole house just might fall down on or around you...

[hillbillyvol]

Second hand smoke, Coal fired utility plants, radon, and last but not least being alive when the USA and Soviet Union were conducting above ground nuclear tests, could all explain a non-smokers lung cancer. Genetic links have also been shown to be a factor.

[MPHgrad]

Mr. Gumbel has been a great journalist and very much admired for his excellence at his profession. I hope that he recovers and goes on to inform others of this and other important issues.