Colorado Buffaloes HC Deion Sanders shocked the sports world on July 28. He revealed he had undergone bladder removal surgery earlier this offseason after doctors discovered a cancerous tumor.
The diagnosis was serious, and the decision to remove his bladder was life-altering. But Sanders kept the news tightly guarded, choosing not to share it with his team or sons. Only a handful of people were in the loop.
Deion Sanders Reveals Who Knew About His Cancer First
On July 28, Coach Prime took the stage with his medical team, including specialists from CU Anschutz and UCHealth, and shared a life-changing update. He is now “cancer-free.”
It was the first time Sanders spoke publicly about undergoing bladder removal surgery earlier this offseason, a procedure prompted by a high-grade cancer diagnosis. Doctors also constructed a new bladder as part of his recovery.
Dr. Janet Kukreja of the CU Cancer Center at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital explained the severity of the situation: “We removed the tumor. It was very high-grade and invading through the bladder wall. Not into the muscle layer, something we call very high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.”
Despite the gravity of the diagnosis, Sanders kept it quiet. On the Aug. 4 episode of “Well Off Media,” he revealed that only two people knew early on: Colorado assistant athletic trainer Lauren Askevold and his sister.
“Well, Lauren was right there. She was right there for the second time, like the process of the foot, and this one. My sister, my country,” Sanders said.
Still, on July 28, Coach Prime shared that his post-surgery life has unexpectedly changed his body: “I can’t pee like I used to pee,” he said, adding that he lost 25 pounds during recovery.
Yet despite the physical toll, Sanders is locked in for his third season at Colorado. He even joked there might be a portable toilet on the sidelines, but made it clear his mission is bigger than football. He wants to be a role model for others facing similar health battles.
Sanders has been no stranger to adversity. In 2021, he dealt with serious complications from blood clots, including the amputation of two toes while coaching at Jackson State. In 2023, he missed media day after undergoing procedures to remove a clot from his right leg and straighten toes on his left foot. Still, he’s kept pushing forward.
READ MORE: Doctor Cites Scary Bladder Cancer Trend After Deion Sanders’ Diagnosis Goes Public
The Buffaloes open their 2025 campaign on August 29 against Georgia Tech at Folsom Field. It’ll be the first time Coach Prime isn’t coaching his sons, Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders, who are in the NFL.
Colorado went 4-8 in Sanders’ debut season, then surged to 9-4 in the 2024 season with an Alamo Bowl appearance. But with Shedeur and Heisman winner Travis Hunter now in the NFL, the Buffaloes face a new challenge: proving they’re more than just a star-powered story; they’re a team built to last.
