Revolutionizing Cancer Care: How Surgeons Create New Bladders for Patients Like Deion Sanders

At 57, Deion Sanders, a two-time Super Bowl champion and head coach at the University of Colorado, has a new bladder. This change followed his battle with aggressive bladder cancer, which a doctor found this spring.

Sanders underwent neobladder reconstruction, a procedure where surgeons remove the old bladder and then create a new one from a section of the patient’s own small intestine. “It’s remarkable how the body adapts,” said Dr. Janet Kukreja, who performed the surgery using robotic assistance and small incisions.

During the operation, a segment of the ileum, part of the small intestine, is reshaped and connected back to the kidneys and urethra. This method has the advantage that the new bladder matches the patient’s own tissue, so there’s no risk of the body rejecting it.

However, the neobladder doesn’t work exactly like the original. It doesn’t send brain signals about the need to urinate, meaning patients need to learn to manage their bathroom visits, sometimes facing challenges like leakage at night.

In a recent press conference, Sanders openly discussed these issues, even joking that he now “depends on the Depends.” He emphasized the importance of getting regular check-ups. “Please get yourself checked out,” he urged. His tumor was found during a routine exam, highlighting how early detection can change lives.

Dr. Jodi Maranchie, a urologic oncologist, pointed out that about 85,000 Americans are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year, with men typically being the majority. Women, however, may present with more advanced cases, sometimes misinterpreting the key symptom—blood in urine—as something else.

Many patients grapple with embarrassment about incontinence that comes with a neobladder. Kates, a urologist who works with Sanders, noted that during the press conference, patients felt validated by his honest portrayal of the challenges he faces.

This kind of transparency can encourage others going through similar health issues. The takeaway? Don’t be shy about seeking medical help; it could save your life. For more on surgeons’ approaches to bladder reconstruction, you can check out the American Cancer Society.

Source link