Battling Cancer, Radio Host Dan Bongino Says He Would Consider Running for Office in 2024 in the Right Circumstances

Bongino, 45, has always been forthright with his listeners, so it’s no surprise he’s sharing his future political ambitions with us. And on his podcast this week, Bongino shared with listeners, "I hate politics. Paula [Bongino] is like, don't you dare. I'm going to dare. I hate I have said a thousand times on this show, 'politics and me, no good.'” But then he said that if Maryland's Governor Larry Hogan decided to run for president in 2024, that he would challenge him. "If Harry (sic) Hogan runs for president in 2024, and there is no one by the name of Trump on the ballot, I will consider entering politics again,” said Bongino.

Bongino’s Hodgkin Lymphoma Diagnosis

Bongino was diagnosed with lymphoma, following the discovery of a lump on his neck. At first, the radio host thought it was a lipoma, a fatty tumor. However, the lump proved to be cancerous, and it was surgically removed.

Related: TV & Radio Personality Dan Bongino Gets Support In Hodgkin Lymphoma Battle From FOX Anchor: "Rare Combination of Toughness & Kindness"

His lymphoma was classified as Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Lymphoma is categorized as Hodgkin lymphoma or Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The classification distinction lies in the white blood cells linked to the disease. If doctors can’t find the Reed-Sternberg cell (a giant cell derived from B lymphocytes), then the lymphoma is diagnosed as Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. And if Reed-Sternberg cells are present, it’s diagnosed as Hodgkin.

Dr. Elise Chong, a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, told SurivorNet in an earlier interview that lymphoma symptoms can be hard to spot, and can lead to a late diagnosis. “The symptoms of lymphoma, especially if you have a low-grade lymphoma, often are no symptoms. People say, but I feel completely fine, and that’s very normal.”

Related: Finding Lymphoma Early: Do you Know the Symptoms and Risks?

Sometimes, out-of-the-blue circumstances, such as a car accident, can lead to a lymphoma diagnosis. Dr. Chong said, “And it’s only because either someone palpated a lymph node and felt some swelling either in their neck or in their groin or under their arm, or they had another scan for a different purpose. I have patients who’ve gotten into car accidents and say, I had a scan of my body and they saw these lymph nodes and that’s how initially the lymphoma was found.”

Sneaky Lymphoma Symptoms Often Lead to a Late Diagnosis

Understanding Lymphoma Treatments

Lymphoma is a blood cancer, and the treatment path for the disease will depend upon if a person’s lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin or Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In an earlier interview, Dr. Chong told SurvivorNet that it’s important to understand your type.

Related: The Stages of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: How Your Stage Affects Your Outlook

She said, “One of the best ways to wrap your head around lymphoma is to start thinking about the different ways we categorize lymphoma and how we as doctors approach lymphoma because it really helps to better understand the literature and better understand what you should specifically be reading about.” We know that being well informed about your diagnosis and the disease can help as you progress through lymphoma treatment.

What Kind of Lymphoma Do You Have? Why Your Type Matters

 

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