Shannon Sharpe shares the heartbreaking reason for which he kept his diagnosis of cancer a secret for a year

Much of his own family has been maintained in ignorance of his diagnosis.


Shannon Sharpe The legendary 14 -year -old career in the NFL earned him three Super Bowl championships with the Denver Broncos and the Ravens of Baltimore. But in 2016, things took a surprising turn: far from the eyes of the public, the temple of high level renown was secretlyFighting prostate cancer. Sharpe now urges others to undergo routine screening, which he attributes to the capture of his cancer when he was still very curable. "Me, not being afraid, I knew it could possibly save my lifeVideo published on Twitter Earlier this week.

By finishing his silence, he also opened the reason why he kept his silent state for so long. Read the rest to learn the heartbreaking reason he suffered in silence and why he now makes a point to speak.

Read this then:The "controversial" way that Ben Stiller learned that he had cancer.

Sharpe "felt good" before discovering his cancer in a routine screening.

Shannon Sharpe
David Crotty / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Sharpe had vast family history of cancer, which forced him to obtain routine projections since his NFL retirement in 2003. "My father died at 39 years old. In the early 1950s. So all this crosses me the mind. So, absolutely, I am verified all the time, "he said recentlyPeople.

In fact, the athlete told the magazine that "Everything was fine"Before routine screening which would ultimately reveal its diagnosis of prostate cancer." I felt good. I was doing the exercise, ate well, drinked a lot of water, no very bad habits or anything. I thought it was going to be a routine, "he said." I broke my moutht, broke my collarbone, dislocated my elbow. I torn a cartilage of ribs, separated my two shoulders. These are things you can feel ... I felt normal. There was no transformation in my body, I did not lose weight. There was no pain, nothing, and if you looked at me, I looked like the image of health. ""

Read this then:Cancer survivor Rita Wilson says she stopped eating this after her diagnosis.

This is what crossed Sharpe's mind by treating the news.

Shannon Sharpe
Images Cindy Ord / Getty for Siriusxm

There is no good time to learn that you have cancer, but the diagnosis of Sharpe came at a particularly inappropriate moment, he says. A month later, he had to move to Los Angeles for aCo-Hosting Job on FS1 Made of famous and commentator sportsJump bayless. "It was difficult ... it was my dream work," he explained toPeople. “I wanted this work for so long and I had the opportunity that Skip believed in me. I was going to be co-animat, tennis, social problems. I was the first athlete to do what I do full -time. ""AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

But his main concern was how his illness could affect his family if he did not survive. "As I said, my father died at 39. Chance to see me, me and my brother, playing in the NFL. The only thing I could do is give my father's name to my son and to tell him about my father. I tell her about her grandfather or talk about my daughters of their grandfather. So they never had an opportunity to sit on my father's lap, to go to He and get candy or make them take somewhere. They never had this opportunity. Well, I wanted this opportunity for my grandchildren, "he said.

He kept his silent diagnosis, even within his family.

Shannon Sharpe
Kevin Mazur / Wireimage via Getty Images

Sharpe has kept his private diagnosis - even a large part of his own family - for "at least a year," he said. "Only four people knew at the time - my brother and my sister and my girlfriend at the time. I did not say to my mother, I did not say to my children. I did not say to anyone ", he saidPeople, adding that he "did not want to worry" of everyone.

"The last thing I need you to do is worry about something you can't control. You worry, it's making me worry and that was not going to help our situation, "he told the magazine. When he finally revealed hisHealth struggle, his children took it well, he said. "I think they have understood that dad is strong. Dad can do it. Dad does a great job of compartmentalization," he recalls.

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He now has this important message for others.

Shannon Sharpe
Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for First Entertainment

At the time of his diagnosis, Sharpe says that he was not aware of how racial disparities could play a role in the diagnosis and care of cancer. Now he offers the word on the importance ofrapid screening and treatment within the black community.

"What I want to do now is to decompose stigma - don't be afraid to go to the doctor," said SharpePeople. "We need to give blacks more access to health care, then once we have better access to health care, don't be afraid to use it. Don't be afraid to just ask your doctor questions. Do not be afraid to get detected because it could save your life. Now they have mentioned that there is a survival rate of 96% if you are detected and that it is detected early. I am part of this 96%. See, I can talk about this. I am not paid actor. I experienced this. I went. I can tell you that it could save your life. I saved my life. I am living proof. ""

With all his achievements on and off the field, Sharpe says that he is now price his health and his time spent with his family above all. "In the end, all I have now is my health. This is the most important goods I have."


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