Written by AP Sports Writer PAT GRAHAM
Colorado’s coach, Deion Sanders, revealed Monday that he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. However, following surgery, his oncologist deemed him healed, and he intends to continue coaching this season.
Sanders’ bladder was removed as part of the surgical procedure, according to Dr. Janet Kukreja, director of urologic oncology at the CU Cancer Center/UCHealth University of Colorado hospital.
It was lively. It was difficult. It was not an easy task. Sanders, who showed up for his news conference in overalls, a cowboy hat, and sunglasses—which he took off after being choked up—said it wasn’t easy. It was a battle, but we prevailed.
Sanders, who will turn 58 next month, has made news for his health, but mostly because of two severed toes and blood clot worries. He claimed to have undergone 14 surgeries since 2021, when he was still Jackson State’s coach, but he kept his battle with cancer a secret.
As he begins his third season as the Buffaloes’ manager, Sanders talked on the eve of fall camp. To explain his diagnosis, he brought his medical team along. It became out that a portion of his gut had been rebuilt to serve as a bladder. According to Kukreja, he won’t require chemotherapy or radiation.
“The C word typically carries a life sentence associated with it,” Sanders stated. Not this time, though. Not this time, though.
Sanders joked, “I was like Atlanta Falcons Prime at one point,” after claiming to have shed roughly 25 pounds.
I really rely on Depend, if you get what I mean, he added later. I have no control over my bladder. Let’s not feel guilty about it. Let’s confront it directly.
According to his medical team, he remained positive throughout the entire process since he was just Sanders.
According to team trainer Lauren Askevold, he never faltered or folded once. He wants to get up and go straight away, so you couldn’t ask for a nicer patient. The voyage has been somewhat stressful. There has been a lot. However, there is a hidden benefit to all of this.
Sanders never faltered in his conviction that he will rejoin the team.
I was always certain that I would coach again. He claimed that it was never in my heart or spirit for God to forbid me from coaching once more. With everything on my plate, I simply didn’t want to be rushing to the hospital once a week. That is not what I desire. Okay, I said, is it possible for them to bring one of those machines and place it in the office?
Rick George, the athletic director, agreed with Sanders.
He’s so upbeat, and he promised to return, George added. I was very certain that he would be.
Sanders said he had many check-ins from friends and family while he coped with the cancer diagnosis. Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss, who took a leave of absence from ESPN in early December following surgery for cancer, was one of the people who reached out.
According to Sanders, Randy Moss contacted me every other day to confirm that I was straight. Randy Moss and his spouse said a prayer for me. informed me of my responsibilities.
Sanders emphasized the value of early detection on several occasions. Because of his history of blood clots, he had an annual CT scan as a precaution, which is how his cancer was found.
As a cancer specialist, I don’t take the phrase “cure” lightly, so we’re fortunate to have reached this point, Kukreja added.
Due to rumors that he has been sick, the dynamic coach skipped football camps in Boulder this summer. Last week, he posted on social media that he was back on campus and feeling fantastic.
The Well Off Media production team, which documents Sanders and the Buffaloes, uploaded a video of the coach’s initial meeting with the players to YouTube on Sunday. A May 9 scenario in which Sanders stated, “I don’t know if I’m ready mentally, emotionally,” is included. I had to prepare a will, so yesterday and last night were difficult. It’s really difficult to consider that you might not be present.
Sanders joked Monday that creating a will would allow him to rank his children. Putting aside the jokes, he continued, “You don’t want to be a fool and leave without organized business affairs.”
Sanders has experienced more health problems. Since having two toes amputated in 2021 due to blood clot problems while teaching at Jackson State, he has experienced a number of them with his left foot. After undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot from his right leg and another to straighten his left foot’s toes, he missed Colorado’s media day in 2023, his first year.
Sanders agreed to a contract extension through the 2029 campaign in March.
The Buffaloes play Georgia Tech at Folsom Field on August 29 to begin the season. He won’t be coaching one of his boys for the first time in a long time.Shilo, a safety, is now in camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while quarterback Shedeur Sanders was selected by the Cleveland Browns.
With a berth in the Alamo Bowl, Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes finished 9-4 the previous season after going 4-8 the season before. They must fill the void left by Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner.
I don’t ever look down. Deion Sanders remarked, “I’m constantly looking up and trying to go get it.” For everyone, I want to be the best Prime I can be. For everyone.
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