Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

Dave Portnoy, the outspoken founder of Barstool Sports, has revealed a recent battle with cancer. In a surprising and candid conversation, Portnoy shared that he had been diagnosed with cancer but is now in remission. He broke the news on Wednesday when he discussed his diagnosis and recovery with his usual mix of humor and bluntness.

In an exchange with other Barstool employees, Portnoy nonchalantly mentioned, “I did have cancer. I beat it. It wasn’t the serious kind, thank God.” The offhand comment caught his colleagues off guard, prompting Rico Bosco to respond, “Really?” Portnoy confirmed, “Yeah, really.”

Bosco was surprised, with Big Cat asking, “How did you not know?” and Bosco saying, “Because you don’t tell me nothing.”

Portnoy also mentioned the physical impact of his treatment, noting, “I’ve got a scar all the way down my neck.” He joked about how the scar made him look, showing his typical sense of humor even in the face of a serious topic. Despite the serious nature of the conversation, the camaraderie and humor among the team remained intact.

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During Wednesday’s ‘BFFs’ podcast, Portnoy further discussed his experience. Brianna LaPaglia noticed a scar on his neck and inquired, “Do you have a scratch on your neck? Like a cut?”

“Yeah, cancer. I beat it though,” Portnoy said.

“Skin cancer from laying in the sun all day and no sunscreen?” asked Brianna.

“Yup,” Portnoy said. “I’ve had a heart attack, cancer, and stung by bees, beat it all.”

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Portnoy revealed that he specifically has basal cell carcinoma, which is the most common and least dangerous form of skin cancer. This type of cancer often develops due to prolonged sun exposure without proper protection, such as sunscreen. He detailed the treatment process, mentioning the stitches and the procedure to remove the cancerous mole. His casual demeanor persisted as he humorously remarked, “It looks pretty badass,” while simultaneously acknowledging the gravity of cancer.

In typical Portnoy fashion, he downplayed the ordeal, not wanting sympathy. “I don’t want to be like, ‘Oh, I have cancer, feel bad for me.’ It was only basal cell carcinoma, not serious. But I really wanted sympathy,” he joked. “God forbid the Celtics lost last night, I was just gonna be like, ‘I have cancer.’ God, I don’t want to talk about it, but they won.”

Portnoy, also known as “El Presidente,” is the founder of Barstool Sports, a sports and pop culture blog that has grown into a multimedia company. Born in Massachusetts, Portnoy graduated from the University of Michigan and later started Barstool Sports in 2003 as a free newspaper in Boston, offering gambling advertisements and fantasy sports projections. Known for his outspoken and often controversial persona, Portnoy has built Barstool into a digital media powerhouse with a dedicated and diverse following.

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