The cancer community found a new celebrity spokesperson on July 28. Deion “Prime Time” Sanders held a press conference announcing to the world that he had been diagnosed several months earlier with bladder cancer.
Kudos to Sanders for being open and transparent about his cancer and what it means for him down the road. It took courage to share that his bladder had been surgically removed and, to use his words, he now “pees differently,” has challenges with incontinence, and relies on Depends. He also let us know that there will likely be a porta-potty on the sidelines of University of Colorado football practices and games. It will be interesting to see how this is covered on game day. Given the tone of his July 28 press conference, I expect Deion Sanders would welcome the spotlight and hope that the announcers repeat the message he delivered: “Men, everybody, get checked out…. If it can happen to Prime, baby, it can happen to you.”
Having also had bladder cancer, I know it is not easy to talk about it. Your self-image starts to change when you hear a doctor say, “You have cancer,” and it takes a while before you can say, “I have cancer.”
Like Deion, I initially held off sharing information about my diagnosis beyond a small circle of friends and those directly impacted by my restricted activity as I went through tests and procedures to determine the extent of my cancer and consider the range of possible treatment options. It was only once the testing was complete and we had decided on a treatment plan that I was ready to share the news outside my immediate family and close friends—almost 2 months after my initial diagnosis.
I waited to tell my sisters I had cancer until I could also tell them about my treatment plan and share a positive scenario leading to a potential full recovery. In the email sharing the news, I felt the need to explain why I had not told them sooner. I wrote: I held off sharing what was going on until now because it has only been in the last few days that we had clear information and clear choices to make. The uncertainty of the past 2 months has led me to wonder how it is that the words patient and patience are so similar sounding and yet so otherwise unrelated…Apologies of a sort for not sharing this with you sooner, but it would only have meant giving you an opportunity to share in the waiting and uncertainty. There will be enough of that in the future as well—it seems to come with the territory.
It is not surprising that Deion, as a high-profile public figure, decided to tightly contain the news of his bladder cancer battle, not telling the press, his team, and even some members of his family. He explained in the press conference that he did not want draw attention to himself, particularly as his son Shedeur Sanders was in the midst of the NFL draft.
Not being a public figure, I took a different approach over the course of my 20-month treatment that included 5 surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, a clinical trial, and significant side effects. As time went on, I grew more comfortable talking about my cancer and found it helpful to share with others what was going on. I made a conscious decision that cancer would not “control” who I was and what I talked about, even though bladders are not the usual topic of dinner table conversation.
Being able to talk openly about my cancer was key to the support and care that my wife and I received throughout my cancer journey. I cannot overstate how much it meant when friends asked how I was doing or arranged to go for a walk or out for coffee when I was in the midst of treatments or complications. None of this would have happened had I not been open about my cancer.
Another great source of support can come from others who are on a cancer journey of their own. Deion Sanders mentioned in his press conference how helpful it was for him to discuss the treatment option he ultimately chose with people who previously had the procedure. Before I had my bladder removal surgery, I had a similar conversation with an avid tennis player who told me how he managed to play after the surgery. I now volunteer through the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) “Survivor to Survivor” program to talk with newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients. These conversations are different because we both understand what it is like to have cancer and the challenges of navigating the medical labyrinth.
Deion Sanders’ bladder cancer announcement was carried on national and local news, reported in newspapers across the country, and spread across the internet and social media. The headline on NBC’s New York City local news was what I imagine Deion would hope for: “Deion Sanders’ bladder cancer diagnosis sounds the alarm for testing.” The importance to the cancer community was clear in BCAN’s message of appreciation and support.
“We are deeply grateful to him for courageously sharing his journey, which helps raise critical awareness about this all-too-common disease. His story is a powerful reminder that anyone can be impacted by bladder cancer.”
