TOM SNYDER DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA
April 18, 2005 — TALK-SHOW legend Tom Snyder, who successfully battled heart disease four years ago, now has leukemia.
The onetime WNBC and WABC news anchor and host of NBC’s “Tomorrow” √≥ predecessor of David Letterman’s late night show √≥ got the bad news after bouts of “uncontrollable sweating” and “general lack of stamina.”
“I have been diagnosed with something called chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Jesus H. Christ!” the 68-year-old wrote on his Web site.
“My doctors say its treatable.
“They say . . . people can live with it for 30 years,” said Snyder, whose outspokenness and brusque style made him one of the nation’s top-rated interviewers in the 1970s.
“Notice, they don’t say people will live 30 years but they can live up to 30 years . . . I will be 69 next month; I ain’t looking for 30 years √≥ but 15 more would be nice!”
Snyder’s younger brother, John, has been diagnosed with the same disease.
Off the topic, he remains as acerbic as ever.
“Early-morning network TV is not news anymore; it’s a joke!” he offered. “I miss Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw. And I pray, in my own stupid way, for Peter Jennings to get well soon.”
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