CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Monday, legendary athlete and Colorado football coach Deion Sanders announced that he was diagnosed with bladder cancer.
Sanders said he had to have his whole bladder removed due to the illness.
Bladder cancer often occurs in the cells inside of that organ, which stores urine.
Men are more likely to get this disease.
Frequent symptoms of this illness include blood in your urine, frequent and painful urination, and back pain.
Dr. Taylor Peak of Erlanger Urology says that our region has some of the highest rates of the disease, primarily due to one key factor.
“The greatest risk factor for the development of bladder cancer is smoking. About 50 percent, or half of all patients that come in with a tumor, we can attribute it to having a smoking history,” said Dr. Peak.
Erlanger is launching a Bladder Cancer Support Group next month for those suffering from this disease.
Sanders says that he plans to still coach Colorado this season as he continues to recover.
