Deion Sanders Says He Wants to 'Instill Hope' After Surgery to Remove Cancer

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said during a Well Off Media video that he hopes having his bladder removed after being diagnosed with cancer and his subsequent recovery can serve as inspiration to others battling the disease.

"I want to instill hope," he said (9:15 mark). "There's a lot of people out there that's in my situation, or had cancer at another level."

Sanders previously told reporters that he is now cancer-free. In Sunday's video, he he spoke about his reaction to his initial diagnosis.

"It's almost like when you hear that word [cancer], it's like a life sentence," he said (3:15 mark). "You really try to take things in perspective and try your best to say, "OK Lord, I know you've got me,' but then, 'Do I have everything in place just in case? Do I have everything in order and am I living life, really, like I'm supposed to live it?' I'm not talking about materialistic things, I'm talking about reaching people and touching and motivating people at the highest level."

Sanders said he was given two options for surgery (8:00 mark), with one of them being a "minor surgery" that seemingly didn't include the removal of his bladder, but that would have required weekly doctors visits over a "multitude of months" and "wouldn't promise me the outcome I desired."

But he opted to have his bladder removed altogether in an effort to be completely cancer-free, though he noted surgery was more intrusive and would require some life changes.

"I can't pee like I used to," he told reporters, laughing, when he first revealed his cancer diagnosis publicly. "... I depend on Depends. ... I'm making a joke out of it, but it is real. It is real. It is real. If you see a port-a-potty on the sideline, it is real, I'm just telling you. You're going to see one at practice, on the sideline [in games]."

Sanders, 57, also told reporters that he kept his diagnosis hidden from most people, including sons Shedeur and Shilo and Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter as they prepared for the NFL draft.

He was also away from the Colorado team for parts of the offseason, missing a number of events and speaking engagements. He plans to coach the Buffaloes this season, however.