Magic Johnson was one of many people touched by Deion Sanders' announcement Monday revealing that he was diagnosed with bladder cancer this offseason. Sanders, 57, was found to have a malignant tumor on his bladder after being referred to a urologist following routine screening of his vascular ...
Magic Johnson was one of many people touched by Deion Sanders' announcement Monday revealing that he was diagnosed with bladder cancer this offseason.
Sanders, 57, was found to have a malignant tumor on his bladder after being referred to a urologist following routine screening of his vascular system. Because the type of cancer had a high level of recurrence, Sanders' doctors opted to operate and remove his bladder.
"Men, everybody, get checked out. Because if it wasn’t for me getting tested for something else, they wouldn’t have stumbled up on this," Sanders told reporters this afternoon. "Make sure you get the right care because without wonderful people like this, I wouldn’t be sitting here today because it grew so expeditiously. But please get yourself checked."
After Sanders announced his personal update, Johnson, who has obviously dealt with his own serious health issues over the years, shared an uplifting message to his longtime friend on social media.
"I’m happy to hear that my friend Deion Sanders has been cleared of cancer," Johnson said. "I’ll be praying that God continues to bless him with good health and lifelong prosperity!"
AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Johnson often uses his popular X/Twitter account to send public messages to his friends, from congratulations to condolences.
As for Sanders, he has been granted a clean bill of health and seemingly a new lease on life, even though he balked at a reporter's assertion that he "stared death in the face."
"I didn't stare death in my face. I stared life in my face, man," Sanders said. "You think I'm playing when I tell you I'm God's guide? I really am. I'm allowed to go through these trials and tribulations so that I could touch and reach you and bless people with the words, with the energy ... I never thought about no death.
"Yeah, I had to make a will because I want to be a business, I want to be a good steward for my kids and for my family. But nah, I got too much life in me to be thinking 'bout death. Too much life ... And I got work to do, we gotta win a darn championship, you talking about death?"
Magic Johnson Reacts to Deion Sanders' Cancer Diagnosis first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 28, 2025
Category: General Sports
