( CNN ) -- Former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw is being treated for cancer , but doctors are very encouraged by the progress he is making , NBC said Tuesday . Brokaw , 74 , was `` diagnosed with multiple myeloma , a cancer affecting blood cells in the bone marrow , in August at the Mayo Clinic , '' the network said . `` His doctors are optimistic about the outcome of the treatment he is receiving , and Brokaw said he remains 'the luckiest guy I know , ' '' it said . Brokaw sat in the anchor chair of the `` NBC Nightly News '' from 1982 until he stepped aside in 2004 to serve as a special correspondent for the network . He joined NBC as a reporter in 1966 . `` Throughout the treatment , Brokaw has continued to work on NBC News projects , including a two-hour documentary on the assassination of JFK , appearances on 'TODAY , ' 'Nightly News with Brian Williams , ' 'Meet the Press ' and MSNBC , '' the announcement said . `` He is also contributing to NBC Sports coverage of the Winter Olympics in Sochi . '' Brokaw : Risks and rewards from warzone reporting . The NBC release included a personal quote from Brokaw . `` With the exceptional support of my family , medical team and friends , I am very optimistic about the future and look forward to continuing my life , my work and adventures still to come , '' he said . `` I remain the luckiest guy I know . '' Brokaw said in a 2012 interview with CNN that the death of ABC news anchor Peter Jennings from lung cancer in 2005 `` really affirmed my decision '' to retire . `` The line that you do n't know anybody near death who says 'Gee , I wish I had spent more time at the office , ' '' he said . `` That 's kind of how I felt . I wanted to be free to do things that I care about , and not worry about whether or not it was a rating period or I have to rush back to the studio to be on air . '' Leonard Nimoy diagnosed with lung disease .
Brokaw was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August , NBC says . Brokaw says he remains `` the luckiest guy I know '' He sat in the `` NBC Nightly News '' anchor chair from 1982 until 2004 .