Rush Limbaugh, the award-winning radio talk show host who has influenced a generation of Republican and conservative activists and officeholders is undergoing a tough treatment regimen for advanced lung cancer. He admits the procedure is “kicking my ass.” Fans and media professionals from across the political spectrum are wishing him well in his fight with the disease and hoping he surmounts the illness to return in full vigor to the EIB microphone.

Limbaugh himself, in his Tuesday radio show, commented on his medical situation, “These are extremely challenging times for me, medically, nothing that million of you haven’t gone through or aren’t going through, and those of you who have, or those of you who are going though it, you understand it. The temptation here is to start divulging a lot of stuff, I’m not gonna do that because I vowed not to be a cancer patient on the radio. I’m in the third wave of treatment now. There have been many cycles but this is the third wave and, this current wave, I have to tell you is kicking my ass.”

He remains optimistic for the immediate term, “For the last seven days, I have been virtually worthless, virtually useless. I haven’t left the house, I haven’t done much of anything except just try to rest and relax. It’s the price that you pay if you make the decision to go ahead and do treatment to try and prolong your life. I’m doing extremely well, all things considered.”

And his faith is strong, “Every day I wake up and the first thing I do is thank God that I did. Just waking up is a blessing. I know many of you are praying daily and nightly, I happen to believe that they work. I believe that they are sustaining me. I pray for the energy to be able to do this.”

But the daily toll of the show is not easy, “I didn’t realize until I got sick, I honestly didn’t, I didn’t realize how much physical and mental energy [the program demands].” He noted that show execs have “best-of” episodes and other hosts ready if he needs a day or two off, “I hope that it doesn’t happen… and I’m not making any excuses. As to how the treatment is going… I’m still here and that’s all that’s important.”

Limbaugh mentioned that his diagnosed treatment “works in 97 percent of patients” however was not effective with him because of a “one-percent mutation” that he has. “That one percent mutation is theorized to nullify the second phase of treatment that we tried.”

He, finally, spoke about the future, “The day is going to come where I’m not going to be able to be here and I’m hoping that it is months, years. I’m hoping the cycle that we’re in does its magic, but the day is going to come that it won’t be possible to be here every day. Any chance to do the show, I’m gonna take it.”

For all decent people with compassion, regardless of politics or ideology, his struggle for survival and his fight to remain at his post are inspiring lessons in courage from a man who is likely the most important broadcaster of his generation.