BOSTON (AP) – Facing a life-threatening battle with cancer, longtime Boston radio host David Brudnoy started saying goodbye Wednesday to his listeners.

In an emotional on-air interview, the WBZ-AM personality says the merkel-cell carcinoma has spread into his liver and kidneys – and he’s ready to die.

“I am not asking my doctors to do anything illegal,” Brudnoy told WBZ’s veteran news anchor Gary LaPierre in an interview conducted at his bedside at Massachusetts General Hospital. “I wish I could but they won’t. I will make it through. My head is completely accepting of this. I am absolutely ready.”

Brudnoy, 64, battled back a decade ago from near death from AIDS. He was struck with cancer about a year ago.

He’s been known for his intellectual thoughtfulness, sense of humor and easygoing manner with callers.

Brudnoy started his talk radio career at WHDH-AM in 1976, then moved to WRKO-AM in 1981. He’s been a fixture at WBZ since 1986.

“David has been such an important member of the WBZ family and indeed the community that the stream of well wishers, e-mails, phone calls and letters has been remarkable but not surprising,” said Ted Jordan, vice president and general manager of WBZ Radio.

Brudnoy’s memoirs, “Life is Not a Rehearsal,” were published in 1997, chronicling his battle with AIDS.

“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.”