Bradshaw was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November 2021. Just months later, an MRI ordered for neck pain revealed a Merkel cell tumor — a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. Through both diagnoses, Tammy, a former radiation therapist who immediately understood the seriousness of the tumor in his neck, remained at his side.

Today, Bradshaw is cancer‑free, and his story arrives at an encouraging time for bladder cancer patients.

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Madrid — one of the world’s largest cancer meetings — new phase 3 data showed a meaningful survival benefit for people with muscle‑invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), one of the most challenging forms of bladder cancer to treat.

Results from a major clinical trial demonstrated that giving two drugs, durvalumab and enfortumab vedotin, before bladder cancer surgery helped patients remain cancer‑free longer and live longer overall.

“In the past, we didn’t give anything before surgery, and this obviously establishes a new standard of care in this patient population that was unable to receive cisplatin‑based therapy,” Dr. Joaquim Bellmunt, director of the Bladder Cancer Center at Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute, tells SurvivorNet.

Cisplatin — a powerful chemotherapy drug — is typically used before surgery for people with MIBC. But many patients cannot safely receive cisplatin, and some choose not to.

“Patients who were unfit for cisplatin chemotherapy or unfit for receiving neoadjuvant [before surgery] therapy, those patients were taken straight away to surgery,” Dr. Bellmunt explains.

The durvalumab–enfortumab vedotin combination offers a much‑needed alternative for this group. While the regimen is not yet approved in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has granted it priority review, with a decision expected by the end of 2026.

Terry’s Cancer Journey and Road to Remission

In the 1970s, Bradshaw dominated the gridiron and became a multi-time Super Bowl champion. He became a Professional Football Hall of Famer in 1989 and was inducted again into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1996. In recent years, he’s become a staple during the National Football League weekly games as a commentator.

Away from the spotlight, subtle symptoms would turn into notable health issues. Bradshaw’s wife, Tammy, encouraged him to stay on top of his health. In 2022, she encouraged Bradshaw to go for a routine checkup, which potentially saved his life.

“We went to the doctor for just a checkup, and the doctor said we need to do a checkup because there’s some blood in your urine. It’s microscopic, and he said you’ve got bladder cancer, and here’s what we’re going to do to treat it,” Bradshaw explained.

Bladder cancer develops when cells that make up the urinary bladder grow and eventually become tumors. Common symptoms include frequent or painful urination or blood in urine.

“I’ve done six weeks of treatment, so I go back every six months for preventative treatment because bladder cancer spreads fast,” Bradshaw said.

The football legend began having spasms in his neck, which caused him great pain. He went to the doctor, who performed an MRI scan.

“They found a mass under my left jaw. After a biopsy, they found Merkel cell skin cancer. It was the first stage, and they took 27 lymph nodes out. This one has been the worst one because I’m still a little sore,” Bradshaw explained.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma is an aggressive and rare type of skin cancer.

For many years, chemotherapy was the only option available as a treatment for metastatic and advanced disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the immunotherapy drug retifanlimab-dlwr (brand name Zynyz) for metastatic or recurrent locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma. Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer.

“I am cancer-free, but I have to continue to go back for preventative treatment,” Bradshaw said.

Coping With a Bladder Cancer Diagnosis

Bladder cancer is the sixth-most common type of cancer overall in the United States, though it is the fourth-most common for men.

Your bladder is a hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ that expands as it fills with urine. The bladder is a vital component of the urinary system.

WATCH: Understanding Bladder Cancer Symptoms

Bladder cancer develops when cells that make up the urinary bladder start to grow and eventually develop into tumors. Smoking is a leading risk factor for this disease, with smokers being three times more likely to be diagnosed.

Symptoms of bladder cancer may include:

• Frequent urination
• Painful urination
• Flank pain (around the sides of your body)
• Urgency
• Blood in Urine

Bladder Cancer Treatment

Bladder cancer can be treated in various ways, but your doctor will consider several factors to determine the best treatment. Where the cancer is inside your body and if it has spread are some factors doctors look at before finalizing your treatment plan.

Surgery for bladder cancer often offers the best chance for a cure. There are various surgical options depending on the location of your bladder cancer.

For patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, treatment will most likely consist of transurethral resection of visible bladder tumor (TURBT). During this procedure, the surgeon gently inserts a surgical instrument containing a camera into the urethra and pushes it upward until it reaches the bladder.

Once at the bladder, the instrument is used to remove all the tumors that the surgeon can see on camera. Most patients can leave the hospital on the same day, but some may need to stay longer, depending on the extent of tissue removal required.

WATCH: Treating Late-Stage Bladder Cancer

If the surgeon and pathologist determine that more tissue needs to be removed, additional surgery may be performed four to six weeks later.

Depending on the aggressiveness of your tumor, cystoscopy (a procedure to see inside the bladder and urethra) will be required to check the area once a year or as frequently as every few months for the first few years after treatment. This is combined with routine imaging of the urinary tract.

Chemotherapy is usually recommended before cystectomy or the total or partial removal of the bladder. Giving chemotherapy prior, or “neoadjuvant,” has been shown in large trials to improve survival in bladder cancer.

Other options to treat bladder cancer may include immunotherapy or targeted therapy.

A relatively new Food and Drug Administration-approved immunotherapy and chemotherapy combination has shown promise for people diagnosed with metastatic bladder cancer who cannot receive cisplatin-based treatment. The unique combination is enfortumab vedotin (also known as Padcev) and pembrolizumab (known as Keytruda). In a study of the combination, the new treatment achieved a response in 64.5% of the patients.

How to Cope When a Spouse Is Diagnosed With Cancer

Bradshaw readily admits his wife plays a crucial role in his health and ongoing cancer treatments by offering support and encouraging him to stay on top of his checkups.

After a cancer diagnosis, emotions may run the gamut, and grappling with your feelings isn’t easy. While coping with caring for a loved one battling cancer, the spouse must also adjust to a new normal. Feelings ranging from anxiety, sadness, anger, regret, and more may linger—however, healthy ways to cope.

• Talk to a therapist and share feelings you’re going through
• Have an open conversation with your spouse about the diagnosis
• Research the disease and learn about available treatment options
• Join a support group or connect with others who have gone through, or are going through, the same experience
• Spend time with your spouse and have consistent conversations about how you both are feeling

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