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US news anchor Dave Benton reveals live on TV that he has six months to live

A news anchor working for an Illinois news channel told viewers on the show he has brain cancer and only six months to live.

Helen Lock
Sunday 14 September 2014 18:20 BST
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Dave Benton revealed live on air he had six months to live
Dave Benton revealed live on air he had six months to live (YouTube)

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An American news anchor working for the WCIA Channel 3 news in Illinois told viewers on the show on Thursday that he has brain cancer and only six months to live.

In a heart-breaking video Benton explained to viewers the update he had received from his doctors. He said: “I told you a few weeks ago that my brain cancer is back. What I have learnt in the last few days is that basically it’s too big for surgery or radiation. My doctors have told me I may have four to six months to live.”

Benton’s co-presenter, Jennifer Roscoe, introduced his announcement saying they had some “serious stuff to discuss” and that they were “open-book” on the show and wanted to share something with the viewers they had known for a while. She also praised Benton’s strength and attitude.

The presenter said that he was going to try anti-body treatment and some chemo intended to slow the growth of his brain tumour. He also said that, as a born-again Christian, he believed he was in God’s hands and that the goal now was to have the best last days.

Benton has been with the show for nine years and said that viewers had really “dedicated themselves to this this” and had supported him through it.

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