Tom Brokaw reveals how he was when he learned he had incurable blood cancer

NBC veteran Tom Brokaw has opened up about the moment he learned he had a rare blood cancer - and has credited the support of his family with pulling him through. Scroll down for video Fighter: Tom Brokaw, 75, has opened up about his battle with multiple myeloma, which is now in remission Not giving up: He told NBC that it never crossed his mind he might die and that he finds it hard to believe Speaking to Dateline, he added that it never once crossed his mind that he would pass away - despite doctors telling him statistics showed he had around five years to live. The former NBC Nightly News anchor initially kept the news of the cancer, which affects the plasma cells in bone marrow, just between himself and his wife of more than 50 years, Meredith. Veteran: Brokaw, pictured at the Berlin Wall, joined NBC Nightly News in 1982, but said he did not want the network to know about his illness because he did not want their worry or their pity By his side: The news anchor, now 75, said the support of his family, including from his wife Meredith, right, and their daughter Sarah, left, helped pull him through - because he had no idea how tough it was going to be Looking forward: Brokaw said he now plans to teach his only grandson, pictured, how to fish During his time in hospital, he also underwent treatment for compression fractures in his spine, which cost him two inches - sending him from 5ft11 to 5ft9, he told Dateline.