Neil Cavuto, a prominent Fox News anchor, has faced numerous health challenges throughout his life, including battles with cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), and, most recently, COVID-19. His story is one of resilience and an inspiring example of how one can rebound after significant health battles. Fans were alarmed and upset after substitute anchors filled in for Cavuto over the last two months.
Cavuto's Recent Bout with COVID Pneumonia
Cavuto, 63, recently returned to the air after a prolonged absence due to COVID pneumonia. He explained his absence at the top of Monday’s show acknowledging that “this did drag on a long time for me. So you really do deserve an explanation from me.” He shared that he contracted COVID again, but this time it was a "far more serious strand…what doctors call COVID pneumonia." (Cavuto tested positive for COVID in October as well.) This bout landed him in intensive care for an extended period, with Cavuto describing it as "touch-and-go." He even joked, "Some of you who've wanted to put me out of my misery darn near got what you wished for! So, sorry to disappoint you.”
Addressing concerns and speculation, Cavuto clarified that the vaccine was not the cause of his illness. “No, the vaccine didn't cause that. That grassy knoll theory has come up a lot. My very compromised immune system did. Because I've had cancer and right now I have multiple sclerosis, I'm among the vulnerable three percenters or so of the population that cannot sustain the full benefits of a vaccine. In other words, it simply doesn't last.” He emphasized that his compromised immune system, stemming from his history with cancer and his current battle with MS, made him more vulnerable.
Cavuto further explained that doctors told him if he had not been vaccinated at all, he may have died. “It provided some defense, but that is still better than no defense. Maybe not great comfort for some of you. And frankly, not great comfort for me either! He ended his explanation by saying he’s not here to “debate vaccinations for you. Just offer an explanation for me. I owed you that. I didn't want to become the story, but for many of you, I did.”
A History of Health Challenges
Cavuto's health journey has been marked by multiple significant challenges. He’s not only beat cancer, but also been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), undergone open-heart surgery, and contracted Covid-19.
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Hodgkin Lymphoma
In 1987, Cavuto was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that attacks the immune system. He underwent treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. Cavuto told SurvivorNet in a previous interview that his diagnosis deeply affected him, as it does many people. He said, as a result of his cancer, he’s "more focused on just trying to be a good human being rather than just a good journalist."
Hodgkin 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.
Symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma may include swelling around the armpits or groin, persistent fatigue, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and severe itching. Swelling of the lymph nodes on the neck is also a symptom of lymphoma. It's important to speak with a doctor if any of these symptoms are present.
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.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Ten years after his cancer diagnosis, Cavuto began experiencing new symptoms. "I was stumbling and falling," the anchor told People in 2002, remembering his 1997 symptoms. "I would wake up prickly. My legs felt like stilts," he said at the time. He also had headaches and back pain, along with periods of blurred vision. These symptoms led to his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS)
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In an earlier interview, he told SurvivorNet, “there were some good [MS] drugs out there and it can alleviate the progression somewhat, but it's still progressive. With cancer, you never know. It can return,” said Cavuto. “I've seen that or it can pop up somewhere else in the body and it is one of the big, scary mysteries of illnesses."
MS is a progressive disease of the brain and spinal cord where the immune system eats away at the protective covering of the body's nerves. This disrupts communication between the brain and the body. Symptoms of the disease can include vision loss, pain, fatigue, and impaired coordination. Some people use chemotherapy treatment to help mitigate the effects of MS. The anchor has lived with his disease and adapted to it.
Cavuto's Stance on Vaccination
Cavuto has been a vocal advocate for vaccination, particularly in light of his own health challenges. In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Cavuto said, “I've mentioned vaccinations in the past, and I think it's important. I'm more cognizant of these types of issues given what I've been through." He notably spoke out in support of the Covid-19 vaccine.
He has emphasized the importance of vaccination, especially for vulnerable individuals like cancer survivors, who may be more susceptible to contracting illnesses like COVID-19. If you’re a cancer survivor, be sure to get the vaccine and booster, as some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can make you more susceptible to contracting Covid-19.
McDonald's Diet and Weight Loss
Interestingly, Neil Cavuto was also involved in a story related to weight loss. John Cisna,a teacher with the Colo-NESCO school district, lost 61 pounds by eating only McDonald's food for six months. Herevealed his final weight loss results on FOX News Channel's "Your World with Neil Cavuto" Monday. Cisna's McDiet went viral in January, after Cisna lost 37 pounds in 90 days by only eating McDonald's.
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The diet began as a semester project for three of Cisna's students. They wanted to see if someone could become healthier by only eating McDonald's food for 30 days. The students planned Cisna's meal,made sure his food intake did not exceed 2,000 calories per day andtracked nutrients to make sure he stayed within recommended guidelines. After finishing the 90-day experiment, Cisna added a second phase to the experiment to see if more rigorous exercise would accelerate his weight loss.