Deion Sanders recently sat down for a press conference alongside his assistant athletic trainer Lauren Askevold and Dr. Janet Kukreja, the director of urologic oncology, to reveal what he’s been privately battling for months.
In a moment that caught many off guard, Deion shared that he was diagnosed with cancer back in April. Just a month later, he underwent a procedure to treat it. The person he credits for saving his life? Dr. Janet Kukreja.
While fans were speculating about his foot surgeries and circulation issues, no one knew the full story. Now, the spotlight turns to the woman who helped Deion beat cancer and keep fighting.
Dr. Janet Kukreja’s Medical Journey
Dr. Janet Kukreja knew early on in her life that she wanted to help people fight cancer, and she had the drive to make it happen. She began her journey at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, completing a rigorous six-year program to earn both her BA and MD.
From there, she headed to the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, where she completed her urology residency and served as Chief Resident. Along the way, she also picked up a Master’s in Public Health. But she didn’t stop there.
In 2018, she completed a competitive fellowship in urologic oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the top cancer hospitals in the world.
Today, she’s one of North America’s most prolific bladder cancer specialists. As director of urologic oncology at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Dr. Kukreja performs about 150 robotic bladder removals every year. Deion Sanders was one of those patients.
Using the Da Vinci Surgical System, she removes cancerous bladders and reconstructs internal pathways, all through minimally invasive techniques. Other doctors come from across the country just to learn from her.
As such, Dr. Kukreja is a teacher, a trailblazer, and for many, including Deion, a lifesaver. Robotic surgery isn’t just her specialty. It’s her language.
Deion Sanders’ Cancer Battle
Deion Sanders didn’t just walk into Dr. Janet Kukreja’s office; he was sent there with urgency. According to Lauren Askevold, his assistant athletic trainer, it all began with a text from Sanders’ primary care doctor: “I need to talk to you and coach. We need to refer you guys to a urologist.” After an initial procedure, the primary care doctor followed up with a more serious note: Deion had a bladder tumor. That’s when Dr. Kukreja stepped in.
She didn’t sugarcoat the diagnosis. “We proceeded with removal of the bladder tumor. It showed a very aggressive… very high-grade tumor, invading through the bladder wall, but not into the muscle layer,” she explained during the press conference. The official diagnosis? High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.
At that point, Deion was given options. They could treat the cancer within the bladder or remove the bladder entirely. Given his role as a father, a coach, and a public figure, Deion chose the more definitive route: bladder removal.
Dr. Kukreja performed a full robot-assisted laparoscopic bladder removal and created a new bladder during the same procedure. It was a success. And in the words of the doctor herself: “I am pleased to report that the results from the surgery is that he is cured from the cancer.”
Deion fought hard, and he won. Thanks to Dr. Kukreja’s skill and precision, Coach Prime gets to keep inspiring both on and off the field.
Praise GOD FOR THIS DOCTOR. AND FOR LAUREN,BEING THERE.TO HELP NAVIGATE THIS FORWARD. Thank you JESUS .