Bryant Gumbel Reveals He Had Cancer Surgery

New York -- Bryant Gumbel - the former Today host and popular television personality - revealed on Tuesday's LIVE! With Regis and Kelly that he had surgery to remove a lung tumor. Gumbel said he had the surgery two months ago and kept the details of his health private.

Gumbel, 61, can be seen and heard discussing his cancer on video of Tuesday's show on the Live! With Regis and Kelly Web site. Gumbel said that surgeons "opened up my chest, they took a malignant tumor, and they took part of my lung and took some other goodies."

Gumbel went on to say that "the pathology on most the stuff came back benign, but enough aggressive cells had escaped the tumor and it warranted treatment." Gumbel, however, did not specify what type of treatment he had undergone. Gumbel said "it's done now" and that "life goes on."

When Kelly Ripa asked Gumbel why he had not spoken publicly about his cancer battle, he said that he wanted to keep it a private issue and that he told "a few people" and his family. "I even kept [the news] from my staff at Real Sports."

Gumbel says he will see his surgeon and oncologist next week.

Lung Cancer - Deadliest Cancer for Both Men and Women

Gumbel did not actually say he had lung cancer. However, if he did have lung cancer, he would hardly be alone. He would be one of hundreds of thousands of American men and women who have been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports there will be almost 220,000 diagnoses in 2009 of men and women with non-small cell lung cancer; non-small cell lung cancer is by far the most common type of lung cancer, with about 10% to 20% of lung cancer cases involving small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is difficult to treat in many cases and often only discovered after the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. However, lung cancer is a disease that can usually be prevented. Smoking is the usual reason people develop lung cancer.

Radon, Asbestos Can Also Cause Lung Cancer

Because the ACS states radon is another cause of lung cancer, you should be sure to check your home for any signs of the harmful, odorless gas.

Exposure to asbestos is another known cause of lung cancer. Asbestos is commonly found in many construction materials (ceiling and floor tiles, pipe lining, roofing, and other surfacing and insulating products) dating to the early 1980s and before. If your home was built before the mid-1980s, be sure to check for any signs of asbestos before beginning any renovations or disturbing any materials which may contain asbestos.

Resources

American Cancer Society. Overview of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_1x.asp?dt=15

American Cancer Society. Can Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Be Prevented? http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_2x_Can_Non-small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Be_Prevented.asp?rnav=cri

LIVE! With Regis and Kelly. December 8, 2009 program. http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/regisandkelly/index.html