Tom Brokaw Shares His Journey With Cancer And The High Cost Of Treatment

A Long and Costly Battle: Tom Brokaw's Fight Against Multiple Myeloma

Tom Brokaw, the legendary journalist who’s been a household name for decades, has had quite the journey since being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable form of cancer, back in August 2013. Now, as he continues to manage his condition while in remission, he’s opening up about the astronomical costs of his treatment. It’s a conversation that needs to be had, and Tom is using his platform to shed light on it.

Speaking to SurvivorNet, the 79-year-old icon explained just how much progress has been made in cancer treatment. But here's the catch—he says we haven’t quite figured out how to make it affordable for everyone. “At one point, I counted up the price and it was something like $10,000 a day that I was spending on drugs,” Tom revealed. Thankfully, he’s part of a great benefits program through RCA, GE, and now Comcast, which means the pharmacy bills he personally handles are relatively small. But that doesn’t stop him from thinking about those who aren’t as fortunate. “Every time I write a check, it makes me aware of the people who aren’t in the same position that I am,” he added.

Privilege and Access: The Difference Between Tom and Many Others

Tom is the first to admit how lucky he’s been throughout this ordeal. The former anchor of Nightly NBC News knows he’s had opportunities that most people simply don’t. “I could pick up the phone and call the Mayo Clinic, and they would make room and send a plane right now,” he explained. But he’s also acutely aware that the vast majority of people don’t have those kinds of privileges. “99.9 percent of the people who get involved in this kind of situation don’t have those opportunities,” Tom said. “I’m keenly aware of that.”

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Life After Diagnosis: Managing Pain and Exploring New Options

Even with all the advancements in medical science, Tom still deals with back pain, a lingering reminder of his battle with cancer. To help manage it, he’s turned to medical marijuana, a decision he admits he hadn’t considered before. “I’ve not done that before,” Tom said, noting that navigating the complexities of medical marijuana in Florida has been a full-time job. But even as he explores new treatments, he remains focused on the bigger picture: the cost of cancer care and the need for systemic change.

“How do we deal with this as a culture? Not the politics of it, but as a culture,” Tom pondered. “We have the ability to do it. We have the greatest resources in the world. Let’s figure out how we can make it cost-effective, how we can have a true testing program for efficiency and results, and ensure that people have access to those results.”