Bryant Gumbel Has Lung Cancer

While guest co-hosting Live With Regis & Kelly, Bryant Gumbel, 61, revealed that he had surgery last month to relieve a malignant tumor in his chest.

The sportscaster and TV host said that he had surgery last month to remove a malignant tumor in his chest, a revelation prompted when Kelly Ripa asked Gumbel, (subbing for Regis Philbin, who is out after having hip surgery) to dance – and he begged off.

“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.”

“We had told a few people, we told my family, obviously. I even kept it from my staff at Real Sports. So I’m okay for the time being,” he said. “I’m hoping they greenlight me to play golf again.”