“Got Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer in 2016”: Shannon Sharpe Details How Early Diagnosis Helped Him Fight the Deadly Disease

While Shannon Sharpe has a religious following, only a few fans would know that the Nightcap host is a cancer survivor. The legendary TE’s prostate cancer diagnosis in 2016, and the way he overcame the illness, is a testament to the diligence he displayed in going for regular screening tests.

In an episode of Nightcap, Sharpe disclosed his family’s long history with cancer. The illness had claimed his father at 39, while his dad’s brothers both died before 50.

Shannon had hung up his cleats in 2004, at the age of 36. Right from the time, the former TE started getting tested for cancer regularly. That was about the age when most of the members of his family were detected with the deadly disease.

Sharpe’s prudence paid off when he was detected with prostate cancer at an early stage, which helped in its effective treatment.

“I got diagnosed with prostrate cancer in 2016, Ocho… I was going to take the job at Fox; it was my time but I started getting checked in my 30s because of my family history. Like I said, my dad died at 39, two of my dad’s brothers barely made the age of 50. One died in his 40s and one died in his late 40s, maybe 51… so I started getting checked…,” said Sharpe.

Since remission, Sharpe has been on a mission to spread awareness and educate the masses about the benefits of early diagnosis in fighting cancer. During his initial appearance at Fox after defeating cancer, the Hall of Famer tight end narrated his story while launching the ‘Talk That Talk’ campaign.

As the name implies, the campaign addresses taboo health topics that men avoid talking about. Sharpe spearheaded this initiative as its face, appearing on various platforms to discuss prostate cancer and the importance of early diagnosis.

As per data, black men are “twice as likely to die from prostate cancer” than men from other ethnicities. And, early detection pushes up the survival rate to 96%. “I am one of those 96%,” Sharpe had proudly said on Fox while breaking his survival story.

Shannon, over the years, has partnered with multiple agencies and organizations to spread the word, be an ideal role model, and most importantly, save lives.