Deion Sanders breaks down stigma around bladder cancer diagnosis: "Let's stop being ashamed"

[ad_1] College of Colorado head soccer coach Deion Sanders obtained candid concerning the challenges he went by way of together with his bladder most cancers analysis, from coping with a catheter to utilizing grownup diapers and extra.

In a information convention Monday, Sanders, 57, revealed he's now cancer-free, however did not shrink back from sharing particulars on what he known as his large and hard journey.

"I am nonetheless coping with going to the lavatory. It is an entire life change," he stated. "I am gonna be clear. I am unable to pee like I used to pee. It's very totally different."

With a smile, he added he has to "depend upon Rely," referencing the grownup diaper model.

"I can not management my bladder, so I stand up to go to the lavatory already 4 or 5 instances an evening," he added. He joked that he is going by way of the "similar trials and tribulations" as his younger grandson. "I am making a joke out of it, but it surely's actual. So in case you see port-a-potty on the sideline, it is actual. I am simply telling you proper now, you are gonna see it."

Along with the modifications to his bladder management, he additionally dropped about 25 kilos all through the remedy course of, which included laparoscopic surgical procedure to take away his bladder and the creation of a brand new one from different tissue. Sanders stated he is nonetheless about 12 kilos beneath his common weight however feels "robust," "ready" and "prepared."

Sanders stated he acknowledged quite a lot of different persons are going by way of what he's, and he wished to ship them a particular message: "Let's cease being ashamed of it, and let's take care of it, and let's take care of it head-on."

He additionally used the chance to encourage others to care for their well being and get checkups.

"Males, everyone, get checked out, as a result of if it wasn't for me getting examined for one thing else, they would not have stumbled up on this," he stated. "Particularly African American males, we do not like going to the docs. We do not like nothing to do with a health care provider."

However he added he is "not simply speaking to the brothers — I am speaking to my Caucasian brothers, my Hispanic brothers, my Asian brothers, my everyone — and my sisters. Get checked out. As a result of it may have been an entire different gathering if I hadn't."

Sara Moniuszko

Sara Moniuszko is a well being and way of life reporter at CBSNews.com. Beforehand, she wrote for USA At present, the place she was chosen to assist launch the newspaper's wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending information for CBS Information' HealthWatch.