What Illness Does Terry Bradshaw Have? How Long Has He Been Sick?

Terry Bradshaw is a football legend, a four-time Super Bowl champion, and a legendary quarterback. However, recent events have cast a shadow over this legendary figure beyond the sparkle of the gridiron. In this article, we look at some of Terry Bradshaw’s lesser-known aspects of his life, particularly his fight with illness, to provide insight into the personal challenges that the man behind the touchdowns experienced.

Terry Bradshaw Illness

Terry Bradshaw captivated football fans as a Super Bowl-winning player in the 1970s and as an affable sports pundit on FOX NFL Sunday since 1994. During one of his live broadcasts in October 2022, the great athlete startled his legion of fans by revealing that he had been battling bladder cancer and skin cancer for over a year.

During today's show, Terry Bradshaw shared that he has been battling cancer over the past year. As of today, he is cancer free, and he discussed his fight and plan for the future: pic.twitter.com/RSwVxlXC97

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 2, 2022

According to Terry’s November 2022 Today appearance, he kept the argument hidden because he didn’t want “pity” from the public. “I didn’t talk about it because I didn’t want pity,” he said. “I didn’t talk about it because a lot of celebrities — unfortunately, I’m one of those — when they say this, I think the perception around America with all the millions of people is, ‘Aw, look at him. Bless his heart. He has cancer. I didn’t want that.”

At the time, the Pro Football Hall of Famer didn’t even mention it on social media. Instead, he resorted to Instagram a few weeks after his cancer diagnosis to share a photo with his pal William Shatner.

Tammy Bradshaw, his wife, kept the news to herself because she was afraid of the outcome. “The doctor calls me to tell me what it is, and then I’m shook because I was a radiation therapist for 10 years,” she said in an interview with Today. “I knew where this could go. I knew what the outcomes could be. And it did scare me the second time with that diagnosis.”

Terry appeared to be in excellent hands with his family’s support, particularly his two daughters Rachel and Erin. Here’s all you need to know about his health issues, current status, and more.

You can also read the following articles on other celebrities’ illnesses:

Terry Bradshaw Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer

Terry confirmed his cancer diagnosis on the Oct. 2, 2022 episode of Fox NFL Sunday, following suspicions about his health after he ran out of breath and needed assistance during the show the week before. “Last week on this show, I ran out of breath and [co-star] Howie [Long] helped me up and a lot of people are asking what’s wrong with me,” The Bradshaw Bunch’s star explained. “I just want to address it and let you know what has happened in my life.”

“In November, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I went to the Yale University Medical Center [for] surgery, treatment. As of today, I am bladder cancer-free. Alright, that’s the good news. Then in March, feeling good. I had a bad neck, I get an MRI, now we find a tumor in my left neck and it’s a Merkel cell tumor, which is a rare form of skin cancer.”

Fortunately, the skin cancer was likewise removed, this time at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

What Is Merkel Cell Skin Cancer?

Terry had to first deal with his battle with bladder cancer, which occurs when cells in the urinary bladder begin to grow out of control and create tumors, according to the American Cancer Society. The cancer may spread beyond the bladder and into surrounding organs and structures over time. According to the news source, the most frequent type of cancer that begins in the bladder is urothelial carcinoma, also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

terry bradshaw illness

The Mayo Clinic defines Merkel cell carcinoma as “a rare type of skin cancer that usually appears as a flesh-colored or bluish-red nodule, often on your face, head or neck,” and it is also known as neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. According to the Mayo Clinic, “long-term sun exposure or a weak immune system” may increase the risk of acquiring it, and it most commonly affects older adults. Tumor removal was used to treat both types of cancer.

How Long Has Terry Bradshaw Been Sick?

Terry said he was diagnosed with skin cancer in November 2021 when he revealed the startling news of his disease in 2022. He beat it, as previously said, but he soon discovered, in March 2022, that he had also contracted a rare form of skin cancer.

How is Terry Bradshaw Doing These Days?

Terry announced his hidden fight with cancer in October 2022, but he was also cancer-free at the time! “Folks, I may not look like my old self, but I feel like my old self. I’m cancer-free, I’m feeling great and over time, I’m going to be back to where I normally am,” he stated on Fox NFL Sunday. “So I appreciate your prayers and your concern.”

In a follow-up interview one month later, he also expressed gratitude to Tammy for all of her help. “I can’t imagine not holding her hand when we take off on a plane,” Terry told Today. “Or when we land or when we snuggle up when we’re in bed together.”

And he’s ready to savor every moment he can with his wife of eight years. “We’re going to go to Europe, going to go to Paris, going to go to wherever we want to go. I’m going to get all this in because I feel like I don’t want to put this off anymore.” Terry said, with a grin, “I may have 25, 30 years left, but I’m going to act like I got one.”