Posted Tuesday 08 December 10:40 AM By: PopEater Staff
He revealed the news while on ‘Live! with Regis and Kelly’ and told viewers that he decided to keep his surgery private until now. He and his doctor hope that his treatment is completed.
“We had told a few people, we told my family, obviously,” Gumbel said. “I even kept it from my staff at ‘Real Sports.’ So I’m okay for the time being.”
Gumbel said that he is seeing his surgeon next week. “I’m hoping they greenlight me to play golf again,” he said.
He revealed the health news while he was filling in for Regis Philbin, who recently underwent successful hip replacement surgery.
Gumbel is best known for his 15 years as co-host of NBC’s ‘The Today Show.’ He is the younger brother of sportscaster Greg Gumbel. The 61-year-old has kept a relatively low profile in recent years, occasionally popping up on his ‘Real Sports’ show on HBO.
By JOSEPH BROWNSTEIN – Dec. 8, 2009
Bryant Gumbel Reveals Battle With Lung Cancer on this morning’s “Live! With Regis and Kelly,” television personality Bryant Gumbel, who has been filling in for Regis Philbin as co-host of the morning talk show, disclosed that he had surgery on his lung two months ago to remove a tumor. After re-introducing Gumbel as her temporary co-host, Kelly Ripa said Gumbel had revealed something backstage that made her “almost faint.”
Ripa had been discussing her excitement about working out on the show with guest Julianne Hough of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” when Gumbel said he could not participate, explaining he had a note from his doctor.
