Just under a month ago, John Walton announced he had been diagnosed with cancer. The lead radio play-by-play announcer for the Washington Capitals revealed he was facing a colon cancer diagnosis after a colonoscopy in July uncovered the illness. Walton underwent surgery to remove 8-10 inches of his colon along with a mass found there.
He shared an optimistic update then and an even more uplifting one on Monday, September 23.
“I’m pleased to report that I am cancer-free following the operation,” Walton stated, according to WTOP News in Washington, D.C. “I won’t need any chemotherapy, which I initially thought would be necessary.”
Walton has been the voice of the Capitals on the radio since 2011 and was previously the play-by-play announcer for the Hershey Bears, an affiliate of the Capitals. He also served as the public address announcer for the Cincinnati Reds in MLB for seven seasons.
While preparing for the NHL season, Walton faced a new health challenge. Less than a day after his colon cancer surgery, he ended up in the emergency room due to a serious leg condition.
After being diagnosed with compartment syndrome, Walton dealt with severe pain and swelling caused by restricted blood flow to the muscles in his leg. Over the course of a week, he underwent four surgeries to manage the compartment syndrome and avert further issues
Despite the challenges he faced, Walton’s resolve shone through. He has already made his return to the Capitals’ broadcast booth during the preseason and is anticipated to be fully ready for the 2024-25 NHL season.
“There are occasional complications that catch you off guard, and I certainly wasn’t given the best situation there,” Walton remarked. “But if given the choice between a complication and a clean pathology report, I would choose the latter every single time.”
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