BOSTON -- Friends and colleagues of well-known radio talk show host David Brudnoy were preparing to say goodbye Thursday after the broadcaster announced that his merkel-cell carcinoma has spread into his liver and kidneys.

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Gail Huff Reports On Brudnoy

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that Brudnoy was as public about his impending death as he was about his illnesses over the past decade. Brudnoy, 64, was open about his battle with AIDS more than 10 years ago, publishing his memoirs in 1997.

"I think we in the media often times want everybody else to be frank about themselves but want to be covert about ourselves," Brudnoy said Wednesday. "My life is truly an open book."

Brudnoy learned he had skin cancer about a year ago, but continued to work through Wednesday night, when his last radio show was guest-hosted by his friend, Peter Meade, as Brudnoy listened from his hospital bed at Massachusetts General Hospital.

He is receiving oxygen and morphine for pain management, but has rejected any life support measures and had his dialysis machines removed from his room.

Wednesday, Brudnoy gave a final taped interview and talked about his battle with cancer.

"This is fast-moving, merciless, and ultimately ... the fix is in ... There's a time to combat and there's a time to accept. My head is completely accepting of it. I'm absolutely ready," Brudnoy said.

Cancer treatments last fall and winter allowed Brudnoy to return to the airways, with the cancer in remission.

"I kept saying, 'It'll get better, it will get better,' and it has," he said. But three weeks ago he learned the cancer had spread to his liver and his kidneys were failing.

During his last radio show, scores of loyal listeners and dignitaries called to wish him well.

"He wasn't just a talkmaster, he was an artist. An artist of life," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said.

"He's tough, he's informed, he's bright, he's smart, he's got a great sense of humor, he constantly challenges you. I'm sending him all of my very, very best. He's a great guy," Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy said.

Brudnoy started his talk radio career at WHDH-AM in 1976, then moved to WRKO-AM in 1981. He's been at WBZ since 1986. In addition to his radio show, Brudnoy was also a television commentator and newspaper film critic. He also taught at several area colleges and universities.