'60 Minutes' creator Hewitt diagnosed with cancer

[March 20, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Don Hewitt, the legendary mastermind of CBS News' "60 Minutes," is battling pancreatic cancer.

"60 Minutes" spokesman Kevin Tedesco said Thursday that the 86-year-old Hewitt has been diagnosed with a small, contained tumor. Doctors will evaluate the cancer to determine a course of treatment.

Hewitt was already a veteran CBS Newsman in 1968 when he created "60 Minutes," pioneering the TV newsmagazine format. He served as executive producer of the program until his retirement in 2004.

[Associated Press]

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