Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer in Deion Sanders Underlines Importance of Testing
In a significant turn of events, Deion Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes head coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, underwent bladder surgery in June following a cancer diagnosis. This diagnosis sheds light on a disease that disproportionately affects Black people in terms of mortality rate.
Dr. Philippe Spiess, a genitourinary oncologist, described the procedure performed on Sanders as involving the removal of the bladder, prostate, and surrounding lymph nodes in the pelvis. The surgery was carried out laparoscopically, using a robot, to ensure precision and minimise recovery time. A new bladder was created using Sanders' own intestine to avoid the need for immunosuppression.
Sanders' experience underscores the challenges faced by Black people in dealing with bladder cancer. According to Dr. Geoffrey Mount Varner, an emergency room physician in Maryland, Black people are less likely to get bladder cancer but more likely to die from it. This disparity is reflected in the survival rates, which vary significantly by stage and race.
The 5-year relative survival rate for bladder cancer overall ranges from about 72% to 97% if the cancer is localized and has not spread outside the bladder. However, it drops sharply to around 40% if it has spread to lymph nodes or nearby organs, and to 9% if it metastasizes further. Specifically for Black people, data indicate a lower survival rate compared to White patients at various stages of bladder cancer.
The recovery and treatment approach depends on cancer stage. Early-stage bladder cancer (non-muscle invasive) may be treated with transurethral resection, intravesical therapies, and regular surveillance cystoscopy. More aggressive treatment such as partial or radical cystectomy, often combined with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy, may be used for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Advanced or metastatic bladder cancer requires systemic therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapy.
However, Black patients often face gaps in survivorship care coordination and less access to certain treatments, which can negatively impact their outcomes. Dr. Janet Kukreja, the director of urological oncology at University of Colorado Health, who performed Sanders' surgery, stated that the cancer had not spread. Sanders spoke about the emotional and mental strain of having to write a will before his surgery in a video filmed in May. Life after bladder surgery involves a "new way of life" and a learning curve, according to Dr. Kukreja.
To address these disparities, Dr. Varner suggests making basic screenings free and more accessible, especially for the Black community. He notes that up to 70% of cancers are tied to food consumption, particularly fast food and ultraprocessed products. In Black communities, there are one and a half times more fast-food restaurants, which serve hyperprocessed foods that increase the risk of cancer.
The high-profile nature of Sanders' cancer diagnosis may prompt more people to seek bladder cancer screening. Dr. Varner emphasises the importance of regular screenings for bladder cancer, including urinalysis. Early detection can significantly improve outcomes. Five years ago, the death of actor Chadwick Boseman from colon cancer at age 43 raised awareness among Black men about the importance of colonoscopies, as Black people are at a disproportionately high risk for colon cancer diagnoses.
Addressing these disparities requires a multi-faceted approach. It includes improving healthcare access, increasing clinician workforce diversity, and enhancing survivorship care. The mortality rate of colon cancer has increased in recent years, particularly among Black men, according to the American Cancer Society. To reduce this trend, prostate-specific screenings and analyses should be more broadly accessible. There are programs that help with the cost of some tests.
In conclusion, the survival and recovery patterns of bladder cancer highlight the need for tailored interventions to reduce mortality disparities faced by Black bladder cancer patients. It is crucial not to wait until it's too late to seek medical attention for symptoms of a serious illness, such as cancer.
- Deion Sanders' bladder surgery and cancer diagnosis have brought attention to the disproportionate impact of bladder cancer on Black people, particularly in terms of mortality rate.
- Dr. Philippe Spiess performed a laparoscopic surgery on Sanders, involving the removal of the bladder, prostate, and surrounding lymph nodes, and creating a new bladder using Sanders' own intestine.
- Black people are less likely to get bladder cancer but more likely to die from it, as reflected in the survival rates, which vary significantly by stage and race.
- Treatment for bladder cancer depends on its stage, ranging from transurethral resection and regular screenings for early-stage cancer to more aggressive treatment such as cystectomies and chemotherapy for muscle-invasive and advanced cancer.
- The recovery process for bladder surgery involves a "new way of life" and a learning curve, and Black patients may face challenges in survivorship care coordination and access to certain treatments.
- To address these disparities, it is suggested to make basic screenings free and more accessible, particularly for the Black community, and a multi-faceted approach involving improving healthcare access, increasing clinician workforce diversity, and enhancing survivorship care is recommended.
