Craig Sager bent on fighting latest leukemia scare, vows to defy doctors '3-6 months to live' diagnosis

NEW YORK — Turner Sports reporter Craig Sager says in an interview with HBO that his leukemia is no longer in remission.

Sager missed 11 months while undergoing treatment and a bone marrow transplant from his son before returning to his position on the sideline during TNT's NBA coverage in March 2015. But he says in a "Real Sports" interview to debut Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) that he learned last month that the cancer was no longer in remission.

The 64-year-old Sager says he is in "unchartered waters" and must keep his strength up. He adds he has already undergone two stem cell transplants and it's very rare that someone would have a third, so he has to keep his strength up.

However, Sager also detailed in the feature that doctors have told him a person in his condition normally has 3-6 months left to live, but others have exceeded that diagnosis. The man well known for his colorful suits during NBA sideline reports, though, is looking to be part of the latter.

"That's what I asked," Sager said in the interview. "What are my chances? How long do I have to live? Is there a cure? They talked in terms -- everybody is totally different. I go, 'I know, what are the chances?' And (the doctors said), 'Well, you've normally got 3-6 months to live. But somebody may have only a week. ... Somebody, it could be five years. You could be the person with the five years.'

"I go, 'Well, whatever it takes, let's get doing it.' I'm not going to be that 3-6 months. I'm going to be that five years. I think we're going to make medical history," he added.

Sager was not scheduled to work TNT's doubleheader Tuesday night. But he said he will continue his duties with TNT, despite juggling his schedule with his medical treatments.

"Still kicking, still fighting," Sager said. "I haven't won the battle. It's not over yet. But I haven't lost it, either. There have been some victories and some setbacks, but I still have to fight it. A lot of work to do."