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News that NFL legend Deion Sanders are recovering after his fight with bladder cancer has sparked a critical conversation about the forms of cancer that are often poorly discernible and lacking in research.
An estimated 85,000 new cases of bladder cancer are expected next year. Men are more common than women, more common in older people, and are often seen in people with a history of smoking and exposure to certain chemicals.
However, there are exceptions.
Sanders’ recent announcement highlights one such exception. At 57, he is much younger than many bladder cancer patients. I was 45 years old. It’s the same thing. I am not a lifelong smoker and never worked around chemicals. I think it’s a good luck with the draw.
Sanders reported a diagnosis of an aggressive form of bladder cancer after the tumor was discovered in the bladder during a CT scan.
I was diagnosed with bladder cancer after I noticed one informed sign that should never be ignored: a drop of blood in my urine.
Deion Sanders, Colorado head coach of Big 12 NCAA College Football Media Days (AP Photo/LM Otero) held in Frisco, Texas on July 9, 2025
Many forms of bladder cancer are aggressive and can recur in the following years. A high recurrence rate may explain why Sanders and his medical team chose full bladder removal as their treatment route.
Sanders described today’s journey as “risqué” and “tough.”
Treatment options range from complete bladder removal to BCG therapy, depending on the diagnosis and prognosis. BCG (Bacillus calmette-guérin) is a type of immunotherapy that is delivered directly to the bladder via a catheter for weeks, months or years. It aims to stimulate the immune system and combat cancer cells returning. Patients may retain their bladder if BCG remains active. However, recurrence may require other treatment decisions.
In my case, I had high-grade urothelial cancer (aggressive bladder cancer). A tumor was detected during the examination after two bright blood drops were noticed in the urine. Luckily, it was caught before it grew into muscle. The distinction between non-muscular and muscle-invasive tumors can literally become a matter of life and death.
BCG immunotherapy was initiated following two transurethral resections of the bladder tumor (TURBT) procedure to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue. The treatment includes a series of appointments over the years and continues to undergo routine scopes to monitor cancer recurrence.
The most important sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. Frequent or painful urination may suggest a urinary tract infection, but it is important not to ignore these symptoms. See the doctor right away. If I had ignored these two drops of blood five years ago, my results might have been very different.
For more information, see bcan.org, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network
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