Don Imus jokes about his stage 2 prostate cancer on WABC radio show

By David Hinckley
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, March 17th 2009, 10:13 AM
http://www.nydailynews.com/

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Twenty-four hours after he told his radio audience he has Stage 2 prostate cancer, WABC morning host Don Imus Tuesday had already incorporated the disease into the running shtick of his daily show.

He further distinguished his show from Oprah Winfrey's by never coming close to the phrase "teachable moment" - even though, through no specific design of Imus', it probably is.

His own approach ran more toward joking that he won't sign off on any treatment until he gets a "wiener warranty" for his sex life.

He also slipped in a number of passing references, like joking that he can now play "the cancer card" in convincing the Blind Boys of Alabama to record a song for his next Imus Ranch record.

Since cancer is cancer, some of the humor had a dark edge. Tuesday's show was his annual live St. Patrick's Day bash in Boston, and he ended it by telling the sellout crowd at the Wilbur Theater, "We'll see you next year ... if I'm still alive."

But the 68-year-old Imus emphasized several times he's fully expecting that will be the case. He noted his rocky medical history, including a train crash, a collapsed lung, a serious fall from a horse and substance abuse, and said, "Every time I've felt I would get through it - and that's how I feel about this."

His frequent guest Mike Barnicle said this case proves that "it pays to bea hypochondriac" - which Imus is - because that led to the critical early diagnosis.

The longest serious cancer discussion Tuesday was with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), an old friend who was diagnosed with the disease in 2004 and had his own prostate removed.

Kerry talked about his experience and the encouraging prospects with early diagnosis. He also talked about other things he had found helpful along the way, including green tea.

Imus told Kerry he is drinking green tea himself now and jokingly mused on how well vodka would work.

"It's a great green tea chaser," replied Kerry.

Joking tone or not, Tom Taylor of the trade sheet Radio-Info.com said that having someone with Imus' profile talk about prostate cancer and the value of early diagnosis can't help but increase awareness.

Imus made it clear, though, that he plans no cancer tour. He said Diane Sawyer of ABC News had already asked for an interview and he had no inclination to do it.

For her trouble, though, she did get a free assessment. "She's a good-looking woman for her age," Imus said."She's had more lifts than Mount Snow."

Imus flies to New Mexico this weekend to greet the year's first crew of campers at his ranch for children with cancer and other diseases.