Colorado's Deion Sanders had bladder removed after cancer diagnosis
Sanders held a news conference to reveal the news as Colorado embarks on fall camp ahead of the 2025 season. Dr. Janet Kukreja, Sanders' doctor at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, said Sanders had his bladder removed after a malignant tumor was found and that he had been "cured" from the cancer.
'The process wasn't easy,' Sanders said as he relayed that doctors presented him with multiple options to deal with the cancer.
Kukreja said the type of cancer Sanders was dealing with had a high recurrence rate and that he decided to go forward with the "curative" option of having his bladder removed.
Sanders, 57, said that he knew he had surgery upcoming for the tumor as his son Shedeur Sanders dealt with a rough draft weekend after he fell from a possible first-round NFL Draft pick to the fifth round.
"There was some scenes you saw, all the bull junk that's transpired on draft day," Sanders said. "It wasn't just that. It was just, I knew as well I had a surgery coming up. My sons, to this day, don't know what transpired, I just told them it was something with my foot, because I wanted to give them the focus on making the team and not focused on dad."
The Pro Football Hall of Famer had been away from the team and at his home in Texas after spring practice to deal with health issues. He appeared at Big 12 media days earlier in July and declined to answer questions about his health while at the podium during his appearance there.
He said Monday that not continuing to coach never crossed his mind after he was diagnosed and that Randy Moss had been a source of strength for him in their conversations. Moss was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in 2024 and is set to return full-time to his role at ESPN for the 2025 football season.
Colorado assistant athletic trainer Lauren Askevold said Sanders' cancer discovery came after he went through his routine vascular tests. The training staff received a call from his primary care doctor after the vascular tests, and the process of setting up a visit with a urologist and diagnosing what was going on began.
Kukreja said that Sanders' tumor was discovered early before it had a chance to metastasize into something even more serious.
"I didn't have any signs," Sanders said.
Sanders detailed what he's gone through since the surgery and said that he "can't pee like I used to pee. It's totally different." He also said he had lost 25 pounds at one point.
'I depend on Depend if you know what I mean," Sanders said. "I cannot control my bladder. So I get up to go to the bathroom already 4-5 times a night. And I'm sitting there waking up like my grandson. We in the same thing. We got the same problem right now. We're going through the same trials and tribulations.'
Sanders said fans will likely see a portable toilet on the sidelines of Colorado games this fall and said he wanted to serve as an example for people who may also be going through similar cancer diagnoses. His new bladder was created with parts of his intestine.
'It's just totally different and I know there's a lot of people out there going through what I am going through and dealing with what I am dealing with and let's stop being ashamed of it and let's deal with it. And let's deal with it head on.'
Sanders' news conference came after he posted to social media that he had recently completed his will. He said he informed his coaching staff and his team of the cancer diagnosis on Sunday.
"You don't want to be a fool and leave and not have your business affairs in order," Sanders said.
The vascular tests are routine for Sanders after he had two toes amputated on his left foot in 2021 while he was the coach at Jackson State. The toes were removed after Sanders had dealt with a blood clot and compartment syndrome. He said Monday he's had 14 surgeries since 2021.
Sanders is entering his third season as Colorado's head coach. The Buffaloes went 9-4 in 2024 after going 4-8 in his first season in Boulder.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Carson Hocevar draws the ire of Zane Smith and FRM crew chief
As he tried to fight back from a mid-race incident, Carson Hocevar got loose underneath Zane Smith and sent the Front Row Motorsports driver spinning into the outside wall. However, things did not end there as the damaged No. 38 Ford of Smith appeared to try and get payback later in the race, taking a swipe at the No. 77 and missing. Hocevar even reacted to it on the radio saying, "nice try." Hocevar rebounded to finish eighth at Iowa Speedway, while Smith finished several laps down in 36th. 'It was just another work of art from [team owner] Jeff Dickerson, wanting us to fight through adversity and be able to come out with a good result," said Hocevar as he reflected on the race. "That's what he's preached and that's what we've been focusing on. We were turned around at one point and just struggling to go anywhere. We were just able to reset and regroup. Luke [Lambert, crew chief] did a really good job for this No. 77 Chevrolet team to at least put something on the board and be able to go into next weekend with a little momentum with two top-10s in a row.' Post-race confrontation While he didn't directly address the incident with Smith in the above quotes, the opposing FRM team was eager to address it with him. Ryan Bergenty, who works as the crew chief for the No. 38, confronted Hocevar after the race in a heated conversation. reporter Stephen Stumpf even caught the beginning of the tense interaction on video. Hocevar has been involved in several run-ins this year, including an infamous multi-week feud with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., as well as various other drivers throughout the field. The 22-year-old is having an impressive season with flashes speed, but Smith is just the latest of many enemies he has made along the way. Read Also: Frustrated Kyle Larson boils over in radio rant during rough Iowa Cup race Opportunity lost as Brad Keselowski misses out on another NASCAR win William Byron saves enough fuel to win caution-filled NASCAR Cup race at Iowa To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Christian Coleman, Sha'Carri Richardson's boyfriend, speaks out about her arrest
EUGENE, OR — Christian Coleman defended Sha'Carri Richardson after an alleged incident at the at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in which Richardson was arrested for domestic violence, according to the police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Police say Coleman was the victim in the incident. "For me personally, I feel like it was a sucky situation all round," Coleman said Sunday. "I don't feel like she should have been arrested. I mean people have discussions and emotions and stuff like that. She has things that she needs to work on for herself, of course. So do I, so do you, so does everybody. But I'm the type of guy who's in the business of extending grace, and mercy and love." Coleman competed in the 100 and 200 meters at the U.S. Track and Field Championships. He failed to qualify for next month's world championships. He ran a season-best 9.86 in the 100 and placed fifth. He placed sixth in the 200, running a season-best 20.02. The sprinter said incident at the airport didn't affect him at the U.S. championships. Coleman is a three-time world championship gold medalist. He won the 100 at the 2019 World Championships. MORE: Sha'Carri Richardson arrested in alleged domestic violence incident, police say Richardson scratched from the 100 competition after running in the opening round. She automatically qualified for this year's world championships due to being the defending champion. Richardson didn't qualify in the 200. Richardson declined comment to reporters at the U.S. championships. 'She's a human being and a great person,' Coleman said. 'To me she's the best female athlete in the world. I see it every day.' If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Christian Coleman, Sha'Carri Richardson's boyfriend, speaks out
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dolphins reach extension with DT Zach Sieler, make him their highest-paid defensive player
The Miami Dolphins have locked down Zach Sieler and made him their highest-paid defensive player. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] The Dolphins reached a three-year, $67.75 million contract extension with the defensive tackle on Sunday afternoon, his agents announced. He will now earn $22.5 million a season, which is more than double what he is currently making, and will get $44 million guaranteed. Sieler, who was a former walk-on player at Ferris State, was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He was released by the team a year later, though, and the Ravens picked him up off waivers during the 2019 campaign. He's been in Miami ever since. The 29-year-old team captain has erupted over the past two seasons, too. He's recorded back-to-back seasons with 10 sacks for the Dolphins, which has been the team-high, while averaging 59 total tackles. Before the 2023 season, he had only made 3.5 sacks in a single season. Sieler had signed a three-year, $30.75 million extension with the Dolphins before the 2023 season, and was due to be a free agent in 2027. He is now among the top-10 highest-paid defensive tackles in the league. '[Sieler is] the heartbeat of our defense,' Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said, via the Palm Beach Post. The Dolphins went 8-9 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021, though the franchise still hasn't won a playoff game since the 2000 season. They'll open the season on Sept. 7 against the Indianapolis Colts.
