In a heart-wrenching video shared on his Facebook page, beloved Nebraska meteorologist Kent Boughton, 68, has courageously revealed his stage 4 cancer diagnosis. The much-loved weatherman, who has spent decades keeping his community informed about storms, now finds himself facing the fight of his life.
For Boughton, the shocking diagnosis came after a series of unexpected events. Three weeks before his announcement, he began experiencing a raspy voice, which he later discovered was caused by a tumor in his lung pressing against his tonsil. This paralyzed the tonsil, ultimately leading to his diagnosis of aggressive small cell carcinoma—a cancer that has spread throughout his body.
In the emotional video, he shared, “After some tests and a lot of uncertainty, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. It’s small cell carcinoma, and it’s spread throughout my body.” Despite the devastating news, Boughton remained determined, expressing his will to fight until the very end.
Kent Boughton, the chief forecaster for News Channel Nebraska, revealed in a heartbreaking social media post on Friday that he is battling stage-four cancer
Boughton, delivering a forecast on NTV News, has worked as a meteorologist since the 1970s
Boughton, with his wife Marcie Ryan, has already completed one round of chemotherapy and has another scheduled at the end of this month
“I spent my entire career telling you about storms, trying to save your lives,” he said, his voice shaky. “Now I’m facing my own storm, my own inside tornado, if you will.” He acknowledged the difficult road ahead, but reassured viewers that he wouldn’t be going through it alone, thanking his family, colleagues, and the supportive community that’s rallied around him.
As he begins chemotherapy, Boughton remains committed to his job at News Channel Nebraska, even planning to continue forecasting, despite the toll the treatment is taking on his voice. “I don’t need anything from any of you except your prayers,” he said. “Your kindness, your prayers, your messages, they all mean everything. It’s tough, but I’m going to fight to the end.”
With a strong resolve, he added, “There is no barcode anywhere on my body that gives me an expiration date. That’s true for all of us. We could all get run over by a car tomorrow. So I’m gonna be here… I’m gonna go as far as I can.”
Boughton has already completed one round of chemotherapy, with another scheduled for the end of March. His message of strength and resilience serves as an inspiration to many, and he continues to stand strong against the storm he now faces.
