Oh The Irony

NEW YORK – Don Imus said he has prostate cancer, but the radio personality expressed confidence in a full recovery.

Imus, 68, made the announcement Monday on his morning show from New York, which airs on ABC Radio Networks and cable's RFD-TV. He said he wrestled with the idea of making it public, but figured he should because he might have to miss some work due to treatment.

"I'm changing the name of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer to the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with cancer and me," he said, referring to his charity to help children with cancer.

Imus said he has early stage cancer, which means it hasn't spread outside the prostate.

A one-time shock jock who now does a show heavy on the media and politics, Imus was fired by CBS Radio and MSNBC in spring 2007 for a racial slur of the Rutgers women's basketball team. He later apologized. He's built his radio network back to the level it was before the incident, although his influence has waned.

Imus said he was surprised more than anything about the diagnosis, since he's been intent on following a healthy diet for the past decade.

He noted that doctors seemed reluctant to talk about one of his big worries: What prostate cancer treatment will mean for his sex life.