Tom Brokaw Says His "Cancer Is in Remission"
Tom Brokaw had some good news to share on Sunday morning, telling his NBC News colleagues that his multiple myeloma, a cancer affecting blood cells in the bone marrow, is in remission.
"The cancer is in remission and I will shortly go on a drug maintenance regimen to keep it there," Brokaw wrote in a note to his "NBC family." He kept his remarks about the disease brief, saying that he was reminded last weekend that whatever challenges he faced didn't compare to those who served in the military during the Battle of the Bulge. Brokaw, who served as a presidential delegate to the 70th anniversary of the battle then reflected on the difficulty those soldiers faced.
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The veteran NBC News anchor revealed in February that he had been diagnosed with the disease and was already undergoing treatment, saying at the time, "I am very optimistic about the future and look forward to continuing my life, my work and adventures still to come."
The former NBC Nightly News anchor has said that he wants to keep his health a private matter, but he has provided updates from time to time.
Brokaw had indicated in September that his prognosis was improving, saying then that his cancer was almost under control and "appears to be gone." He cautioned then that the disease will not completely go away, but it can be managed.
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Read Brokaw's full note to his colleagues, which he signed "T Bone," below.
To my NBC FAMILY,
A year ago my future was more uncertain than I cared to acknowledge but now I face the New Year with very encouraging news. The cancer is in remission and I will shortly go on a drug maintenance regimen to keep it there.
Last weekend I was reminded of how fortunate we all are and whatever challenges I faced were footnotes compared to the men I was with.
I was a Presidential delegate to the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, the fight which went on for most of December 1944, in one of the worst winters in 20th century Europe.
Hitler tried to break the advance on Germany by throwing 200k of his best troops, tanks and artillery at the Americans who were outnumbered almost 3-1.
Monty Meigs and I went into the forest surrounding Bastogne where remains of the original 101st Div fox holes still are visible.
They slept in heavy snow, water pooled at the bottom, eating cold rations.
About 30 vets returned. The oldest was 96 and the youngest 89.
One Airborne old timer kept struggling to lift himself out of his wheelchair when the occasion called for a salute. I finally whispered to him, "Stay seated. No one will give you KP for not standing."
We both had a good laugh.
The King and Queen of Belgium attended many of the ceremonies and could not have been more cordial.
I flew home reflecting again on how lucky we are that generation gave us the lives we have today — how my last year was a challenge but I was meeting it in world class hospitals with brilliant physicians, not in a foxhole in the Ardennes.
Happy New Year all.
T Bone
