KARE 11's Randy Shaver learns he's cancer-free a second time

Randy Shaver, the weeknight news anchor on KARE 11, has won a second round in his battle with cancer.

Shaver received a diagnosis of prostate cancer in August, underwent treatment and was notified by his oncologist of the good news on Friday. "He told me, 'You are good to go — live your life,' " said Shaver in an interview Saturday.

The KARE staff surprised him with an on-air champagne celebration at the end of Friday's 6 p.m. newscast. His son, Ryan, a sportscaster at the station, brought out a cake.

Shaver, 60, has worked at KARE for 36 years, starting as a weekend sports anchor in 1983. He became a weeknight sports anchor and sports director in 1994 and was named news anchor in 2012.

He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a form of cancer, in 1998, underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment and was eventually declared cancer-free. That cancer has not reemerged.

"I celebrated 20 years of being cancer-free last June and was diagnosed with prostate cancer last August, so it was an up and down summer," Shaver said.

He went through six months of chemotherapy beginning in October and 25 radiation treatments in December and January. "I probably missed three days of work," he said.

In 2003 they started the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund, which raises money for cancer research and patient aid programs in Minnesota. He said it has raised $8 million so far and gave away $860,000 in January. "Ninety-four cents of every dollar we raise goes to our charity," he said.

After the prostate cancer diagnosis, the fund created a #2for2 campaign "for all these people who are fighting cancer and want to beat it. … We wanted to beat cancer a second time, and go 2 for 2."

The organization will hold a fundraiser on June 2 at the Medina Entertainment Center and golf tournament at the Rush Creek Golf Club on June 3. For information, go to randyshavercancerfund.org.

Randy Furst • 612-673-4224