NEED TO KNOW

• Deion Sanders said he kept his bladder cancer diagnosis secret from his sons Shedeur and Shilo to keep them focused on the upcoming NFL season
• Shedeur and Shilo are both heading into their NFL rookie seasons
• Sanders’ doctor announced Monday that he was “cured” of bladder cancer after having the organ surgically removed

Deion Sanders kept his recent bladder cancer diagnosis a secret from most everyone — including his two youngest sons, Sheduer and Shilo Sanders.

“My sons to this day don’t know what’s transpired,” Sanders, who turns 58 next month, revealed during a press conference Monday, July 28, where he revealed he was treated for cancer. “I wanted them to really focus on making the team.”

Both Shedeur and Shilo Sanders are getting ready for their rookie NFL seasons. Shedeur was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, and Shilo was undrafted but signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The University of Colorado football coach, who also goes by the self-appointed nickname Coach Prime, said he shared the news with his oldest son Deion Jr. (a.k.a. “Bucky”) and his daughters Shelomi and Deiondra. Sanders said all three children “have not left” his side since finding out.

Meanwhile, Sanders said he opted to keep Shedeur and Shilo in the dark as they went through their first NFL training camps to prepare for the 2025 season.

Coach Prime’s announcement Monday came after a months-long absence from the football team, as reports swirled that he had been dealing with an undisclosed, severe health issue as of late.

Sanders explained Monday that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer and that he opted to have his bladder removed instead of attempting to treat the disease, which his doctor described as highly recurrent if he had decided to keep the organ and attempt to treat it.

Instead, doctors removed his bladder and reshaped part of his intestine to operate as a new one while he also uses a bag to help him urinate.

Coach Prime’s doctor, urological oncologist Dr. Janet Kukreja, declared at the press conference that Sanders was “cured” of the disease.

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Grateful, Sanders thanked God, his family, and his doctors for helping him get through recent months, adding that “the process wasn’t easy.”

“Right now, I’m still dealing with going to the bathroom,” Sanders said, at times making light of the issue. “It’s a whole life change.”

Sanders told the media he is back and plans to coach for the 2025 season — something he never doubted he would be able to do.

“Slowly but surely, I built myself back up,” Sanders said. “I’m able, I’m strong.”

The Pro Football Hall of Famer added: “It has been a tremendous journey and I’m truly thankful that God is so good. God is so good, you have no idea. You have no idea how good God has been for me to be here. You have no idea.”

Read the original article on People