Sportscaster Dick Vitale among first to be treated at new Sarasota cancer center

ESPN sportscaster Dick Vitale, 82, was among the first patients to be treated at a new cancer center at Sarasota Memorial Hospital this week.

The Lakewood Ranch resident, who has himself helped raise millions of dollars for pediatric cancer research through his work with the The V Foundation, was recently diagnosed with lymphoma.

Vitale received his fourth chemotherapy treatment at Sarasota Memorial on Tuesday, according to a hospital spokesperson. While there, the TV personality participated in a ribbon cutting for one of 56 patient rooms at the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute’s Oncology Tower. The newly completed, eight-story treatment facility is located on Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s main downtown campus.

“It’s phenomenal,” Vitale said of the new facility in a video interview provided by the hospital. “But I think really the key is the people. The staff. The unbelievable cordiality that they have.

“You go in for chemotherapy, obviously it’s not fun city,” Vitale continued. “But the bottom line is it’s needed to battle the various cancers that people have to face. But I think having a staff with a smile on their face, and certainly the beauty of the building and the beauty of the whole center here is first class in every way.”

Dr. Richard Brown, director of Oncology for Sarasota Memorial Hospital, called the new facility “beautiful” and “state-of-the-art.”

“Cancer’s a really, really hard diagnosis,” Brown said in the video. “The treatment is difficult on patients and families in terms of having to go to a variety of locations. It just makes sense to put (the treatments) in your local community, where it’s a lot easier on everyone involved. Especially the patient.”

Brown will serve as medical director for the new facility, which will also offer support services such as counseling and case management for its cancer patients.

Diseases treated at the facility include gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, gynecological cancer, urological and genitourinary cancers and thyroid cancer.

On Tuesday, Vitale said that his recent experiences have given him new perspective on what some of the children he’s met over the years were going through with a cancer diagnosis.

“It’s the blood work on a regular basis. It’s the scans you have to go through. It’s all the different unbelievable moments you have to go through,” Vitale said. “It’s a tough journey.”

But the TV personality also shared his belief that positivity is a crucial part of the treatment process.

“I think it works. It helps you have some spirit. Some enthusiasm. And battle it,” Vitale said.

The sportscaster said he plans to be back on the air later this month if his health allows.