Logan Reid
Deion Sanders, the University of Colorado football coach, was in the hospital for bladder cancer treatment. He underwent surgery to remove his bladder and was found to be cured of cancer. Sanders had a history of health issues, including blood clots and two toe amputations in 2021. He urged people to get checked out and to pay attention to even the mildest of symptoms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for hospitalisation | Treatment for bladder cancer |
| Type of cancer | Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) |
| Treatment | Surgery to remove bladder; chemotherapy or immunotherapy may be used to keep it under control |
| Hospital stay duration | 23 days |
| Underlying health issues | Blood clots, two toes amputated in 2022, compartment syndrome on left leg |
| Weight loss | 14-25 pounds |
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What You'll Learn
Deion Sanders' bladder cancer diagnosis
Deion Sanders, the University of Colorado football coach, revealed on July 28, 2025, that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. Sanders, 57, had been absent from team practice for several months, sparking speculation about his health.
Sanders underwent surgery to remove his bladder and was found to be cured of cancer. He returned to campus in July 2025 after recovering at his ranch in Texas. At a press conference, Sanders revealed that he had lost about 25 pounds and experienced incontinence issues, saying, "I depend on Depend." He also urged men to get screened for bladder cancer.
Sanders' bladder cancer was discovered during one of his routine vascular exams due to his history of blood clots in his legs. He had also previously dealt with other serious health issues, including blood clots that required two toe amputations in 2021 and emergency surgery in June 2023 to treat persistent clots.
Bladder cancer is more common in men than in women, and risk factors include smoking, exposure to certain industrial chemicals, older age, and chronic bladder irritation and infections. Treatment for bladder cancer depends on the type of tumor, with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) being less aggressive and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) being more worrisome as it can grow through the bladder wall and become incurable.
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Sanders' surgery and recovery
Deion Sanders, the University of Colorado football coach, underwent surgery to remove his bladder after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. Sanders' bladder cancer was diagnosed early during one of his routine vascular exams due to his history of blood clots in his legs. He had also dealt with other serious health issues in the past, including blood clots that required two toe amputations in 2021 or 2022 and emergency surgery in June 2023 to treat persistent clots.
Sanders opted for a neobladder procedure, where a section of the small intestine is used to create a new bladder, allowing him to urinate in the same way as before. This procedure typically requires a hospital stay of two to five days, followed by the use of a catheter for a couple of weeks before beginning to train the new bladder. Sanders experienced some incontinence issues and had to depend on incontinence products like "Depends." He openly discussed these challenges during his press conference, encouraging men to get screened for bladder cancer.
Sanders' battle with bladder cancer and his openness about his experience have brought attention to the importance of early testing and screening for cancer, especially among Black individuals who are at a disproportionately higher health risk. His high-profile diagnosis is expected to prompt more people to seek screening and increase awareness of bladder cancer symptoms and treatment options.
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Sanders' weight loss
Deion Sanders, the University of Colorado football coach, revealed in July 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. He underwent surgery to remove his bladder and was declared cancer-free by his doctors. During his battle with cancer and recovery, Sanders experienced a significant weight loss of about 25 pounds. In May 2025, Sanders mentioned that he had lost about 14 pounds due to limited contact with his team during their spring and summer workouts. He also shared a brief health update on social media, revealing that he had lost 14 pounds due to health complications.
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Sanders' previous health issues
Deion Sanders, the University of Colorado football coach, has had several previous health issues. In July 2025, Sanders revealed that he had successfully battled bladder cancer. He underwent surgery to remove his bladder and was found to be cured of the disease. Sanders's bladder cancer was diagnosed during one of his routine vascular exams, which he undergoes due to a history of blood clots in his legs. Indeed, Sanders has had several previous issues with blood clots, which required him to undergo multiple surgeries. In 2021, he spent 23 days in the hospital battling compartment syndrome on his left leg, and he underwent emergency surgery in June 2023 to treat persistent clots. Sanders also had to have two toes amputated from his left foot in 2022 due to blood clots.
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Sanders' hospital stay in 2021
Deion Sanders, the University of Colorado football coach, was hospitalised in 2021 due to several health issues. Sanders has a history of health issues, including blood circulation problems and blood clots in his legs, which have required multiple surgeries. In 2021, Sanders spent 23 days in the hospital battling compartment syndrome on his left leg, which resulted in the amputation of two toes from his left foot. He also has a history of blood clots, which caused him to undergo additional surgeries in the summer of 2023.
Sanders' health issues have impacted his work as a football coach. Due to his hospitalisation in 2021, he missed three games as the head coach of Jackson State in Mississippi. Despite this, he led his team to an impressive 11-2 record for the season. Sanders also missed several events in 2023 due to his health, including the wedding of one of his star players and various football camps and speaking appearances.
In July 2025, Sanders revealed that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and had undergone surgery to remove his bladder. He credited his successful recovery to God and the dedication of his doctors. Sanders also acknowledged the support of his medical team, specifically Dr. Janet Kukreja, director of urological oncology at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, and Colorado team trainer Lauren Askevold.
During a press conference, Sanders openly discussed the challenges of living with a restructured bladder, specifically incontinence issues. He also encouraged others, especially men, to get screened for bladder cancer and urged people to pay attention to even mild symptoms. Sanders' bladder cancer diagnosis brought attention to the importance of early testing, particularly within the Black community, as Black people tend to be at a higher health risk due to deficiencies in care.
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Frequently asked questions
Dion Sanders was in the hospital for bladder cancer treatment.
Dion Sanders underwent surgery to remove his bladder and was treated for cancer.
Yes, Dion Sanders had a history of blood circulation issues and blood clots in his legs, which required multiple surgeries. He also had two toes amputated in 2021 or 2022 due to compartment syndrome.
Dion Sanders was diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), a less aggressive form that is confined to the inner lining of the bladder.
Dion Sanders spoke openly about his bladder cancer experience, expressing gratitude for his successful treatment and using humour to discuss the challenges of living with a restructured bladder.
