Deion Sanders Meets with Cancer Survivors at UCHealth Longmont Facility
University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders connected with eight cancer survivors at UCHealth Longs Peak Medical Center in Longmont on October 21, sharing his own experience with bladder cancer in a roundtable session focused on resilience and community support.
Sanders, who recently announced he is cancer-free following treatment, spent Monday afternoon listening to patients receiving cancer care at the Longmont facility describe their battles with the disease. The session brought together survivors who have undergone various cancer treatments to discuss what has helped them through their journeys.
"I met a group full of men and women today that said, 'No. Not me. I'm bigger than this. I'm better than this. I got this,'" Sanders said after the gathering. "They fought cancer head-on, and they're still fighting cancer head-on."
During the roundtable, a UCHealth oncology nurse navigator asked participants to write what has helped them through their cancer journeys. Responses ranged from Bible verses and mantras to single words like "warrior" and "love," as well as acknowledgments of family members and friends who provided support.
Sanders emphasized the importance of community and connection when facing cancer.
"This is something that you can't get through by yourself," he said. "First of all, you've got to connect with the Lord in some type of way. But family, friends and loved ones as well as community play a vital role."
UCHealth Facility Provides Comprehensive Cancer Services
UCHealth Longs Peak Medical Center in Longmont offers medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology and infusion services through a collaboration between UCHealth, the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers.
The facility opened in 2017 and serves Longmont, Berthoud, Erie, Frederick, Firestone, Platteville and portions of Larimer and Weld Counties. The medical center provides chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and access to clinical trials through the US Oncology Network.
Oncology nurse navigators at the facility guide patients through diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, coordinating care and connecting patients with social workers and financial assistance programs.
UCHealth recently completed its affiliation with Estes Park Health, expanding the health system's northern Colorado presence. That partnership, which became official November 1, addressed financial challenges threatening healthcare services in the mountain community.
Sanders in Third Season Leading Buffaloes
Sanders is in his third season as head coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes football team. The Colorado team plays Utah in Salt Lake City on October 26.
The coach described the cancer survivors he met Monday as his role models, praising their determination in fighting the disease.