Conservative Radio Host Dan Bongino, 46, To Take Over Rush Limbaugh’s Time Slot After Receiving ‘Clean Bill of Health’ Following Cancer Fight

The conservative commentator and Fox News contributor will take over the late Rush Limbaugh’s radio time slot, broadcasting for Westwood One from noon ET to 3 p.m. ET each weekday. The show will be called “The Dan Bongino Show” and it launches May 24. Limbaugh died in February at age 70 from lung cancer.

“I’m excited to embrace the immense power of radio to connect with my listeners live for three hours every day. This is an incredible privilege, and I pledge to honor the trailblazing work of those who came before me,” Bongino says in a statement about the news.  The show will “tackle the hot political issues, debunking both liberal and Republican establishment rhetoric.”

Bongino’s Cancer Battle

In 2020, Bongino discovered a lump on his neck, which he initially believed to be a lipoma, or a fatty tumor. After he had it surgically removed, however, he was told that the tumor was cancerous, and he was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Related: 7 Sneaky Symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma: Doctor Told One Teen Her Itchy Rash Later Diagnosed at Stage 4 Was 'Nothing to Worry About'

Lymphoma begins in white blood cells called lymphocytes. This kind of cancer is typically classified as either Hodgkin Lymphoma or Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The distinction between lies in the white blood cells linked to the disease. If doctors are unable to detect the Reed-Sternberg cell (a giant cell derived from B lymphocytes), then it is categorized as Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Related: 'Keep up the great work': Fans Pray For Radio Host Dan Bongino After Former Secret Service Officer Finishes Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment

In a previous interview, Dr. Elise Chong, a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, says lymphoma symptoms can be difficult to detect. "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,” she explains.

Dr. Elise Chong explains why your type of lymphoma matters

Returning to Work After Cancer

Navigating the cancer journey, as Bongino is currently doing, can be tricky. There are many emotions to contend with, from the time of the diagnosis, through cancer treatment, and onward, into remission.

After undergoing cancer treatment, and later transitioning back into a more “normal,” pre-cancer routine, there may be some speed bumps along the way. Some cancer patients opt for working with a social worker as a way to find needed support through the cancer journey.

Related: "Be Patient With Your Emotions": A Social Worker's Insights Into Handling a Cancer Diagnosis

In an earlier interview, Sarah Stapleton, a licensed clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center, says, “I think it’s super important to see a social worker. I think there’s networking that they can assist you with. And they really have the strongest knowledge of the resources available to get you through the process.”

Related: Learn to Accept Yourself A Huge Part of Living With Cancer

“I think social work one of the primary roles is advocacy it’s meeting the patient and understanding the patient’s needs and understanding what it is you need in this very moment. Whether that be financial resources, whether it be related to your insurance, transportation, or ultimately, the emotional process of getting through cancer treatment,” says Stapleton.

“So if there’s any barrier that you’re finding, financial, transportation, or otherwise, a social worker’s going to help advocate for you to try to do the best we can to eliminate that and to make sure that you get your treatment.”

The Value of Using a Social Worker During Treatment

 

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