Bryant Gumbel told the television audience today that he has lung cancer and had surgery secretly two months ago to remove a malignant tumor. Read more on Bryant Gumbel’s cancer below.

Bryant Gumbel, 61, was filling in for Regis Philbin who has taken time off after his hip replacement surgery.

Gumbel, the former “Today” show anchor and now the host of “Real Sports” on HBO, told the audience that he had part of his lung removed during the operation.  But Bryant had wanted to keep his cancer diagnosis and surgery private.

“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. I’m hoping they greenlight me to play golf again.”

Gumbel revealed his cancer after co-host Kelly Ripa asked him to dance during a segment of the show, and he told her he could not strain himself.

“The pathology on most of the stuff came back benign,” Gumbel said. “But enough aggressive cells had escaped the tumor that it warranted some treatment and I went though that and it’s done.”

Gumbel goes back to the doctor next week for an update.

“I’m hoping they greenlight me to play golf again,” he said.

Click thumbnails for larger pictures

images