NEW YORK - ABC News anchorman Peter Jennings announced Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer but will try to keep presenting the nightly news programme while undergoing chemotherapy.
Jennings is the last remaining of the "big three" news anchors of the past two decades, following a series of forced departures and retirements.
Jennings, who has presented the ABC`s World News Tonight for more than 20 years, told staff about his illness on Tuesday, the network said.
The 66-year-old star journalist is expected to continue anchoring the news during the chemotherapy "to the extent he can do so comfortably," ABC News president David Westin said.
"There will be good days and bad, which means some days I may be cranky and some days really cranky," Jennings was quoted in US media as saying in his message to staff.
"Almost 10 million Americans are living with cancer," Jennings added. "I am sure I will learn from them how to cope with the facts of life that none of us anticipated."
Jennings` illness was disclosed only a month after veteran journalist Dan Rather stopped presenting the CBS Evening News.
Rather, 73, retired only months after being criticised for a controversial report last September which cast doubt on President George W. Bush`s Vietnam-era military service. CBS admitted it had been misled by sources and Rather apologized on prime time television for the report.
NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw retired last year.
04/05/2005 16:31 GMT