Rush Limbaugh (Getty Images/KMazur/WireImage)

Iconic voice of conservative values and nationally-syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh announced Monday that he has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

Limbaugh shared the news with his listeners during his broadcast, expressing gratitude for the support of his family and friends – and for his “deeply personal relationship with God”:

“So this has happened, and my intention is to come here every day I can and to do this program as normally and as competently and as expertly as I do each and every day, because that is the source of my greatest satisfaction professionally, personally. I’ve had so much support from family and friends during this that it’s just been tremendous. I told the staff today that I have a deeply personal relationship with God that I do not proselytize about. “But I do, and I have been working that relationship tremendously, which I do regularly anyway. But, I’ve been focused on it intensely for the past couple of weeks. I know there are many of you in this audience who have experienced this, who are going through it yourselves at the same time.”

The 69 year-old Limbaugh said that he is currently “experiencing zero symptoms,” other than the shortness of breath that led him to seek medical help.

After taking a few days off to confer with doctors about his course of treatment, Limbaugh plans to return to doing his show – and to continue to host his show as often, and for as long, as possible.

He added that he always has been, and will always continue you be, truly grateful for his relationship with his followers.