Dion Sanders, the head coach for the University of Colorado’s football team, showed support for actress Karrueche Tran during her recent surgery to remove her bladder after doctors found a cancerous tumor in May. This was revealed in footage shared on her son’s YouTube channel.
Speaking at a press conference in Boulder on Monday, Sanders disclosed that he had not removed cancer since his bladder surgery. The 57-year-old coach was present alongside Dr. Janet Kukleha, president of urological oncology at the Colorado Cancer Center.
Shortly after, Deion Sanders Jr. uploaded a behind-the-scenes look at his father’s health experience on YouTube.
“We’re in the hospital because we’re dealing with bladder cancer,” Tran, 37, said, pausing to wipe tears. “His bladder is being removed, and they’ll create a new one from part of the intestine. I think it’s the best option because it gets rid of the cancer completely. I really want to avoid any future visits, as I was getting closer to the muscles.”
Sitting on the bed, Sanders recounted how he had to draft a will the night before the surgery, uncertain about his mental and emotional readiness.
As Tran was taken to the operating room, she reached for Sanders’ hand.
It remains unclear if Sanders and Tran are in a relationship. Previously, Sanders and his long-term fiancée, television producer Tracey Edmonds, ended their relationship in December 2023 after being together for 12 years.
Later in the video, it was revealed that Sanders was diagnosed with bladder cancer on April 14 and underwent surgery on May 9.
During the press conference, Sanders commented, “We can’t control the bladder. I’ve already been to the bathroom four or five times a night, feeling like I’m as awake as my grandchild. We’re both having the same issues, facing similar trials.”
This surgery was his 14th since 2021, as Sanders has faced multiple health challenges, including blood clots in his legs.
In 2021, he had to amputate his left big toe and second toe due to complications from those clots.
On Wednesday, Sanders was in Tampa Bay to kick off the Buccaneers’ training camp, where his son, rookie safety Shiro Sanders, will be part of the team.
Now in his second season with Colorado, Sanders led the team to a 9-4 record and signed a five-year, $54 million contract extension in March.
Buffalo will kick off the 2025 season against Georgia Tech in Boulder on August 29.
