Last month, Terry Bradshaw revealed on that show that he had been battling cancer for a year. It was shocking news that nobody saw coming. The Fox NFL Sunday co-host and analyst said that he was diagnosed with bladder cancer last November, went through surgery and treatment, and the was diagnosed with a Merkel cell tumor (a rare form of skin cancer) in March, went through treatment for that, and was now cancer-free.
The 74-year-old told NBC News’ Harry Smith that he was not scared, but he also explained why he waited a year to publicly discuss his cancer fight.
“I didn’t talk about it because I didn’t want pity. 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 the millions of people is, ‘Aw, look at him. Bless his heart. He has cancer. Well, my husband died of cancer! My kids are…’ I didn’t want that.”
“Took me a long time before I told my family,” he added.
But when he received negative feedback from fans, he decided to share his story publicly.
“I couldn’t breathe,” he recalled. “That’s when everybody notices. ‘What’s wrong with him?’ Social media went, ‘Get rid of him. He needs to be off the air. He’s an embarrassment.’ And I was like, ‘Embarrassment? I got cancer.’”
Tammy, who has been married to Bradshaw since 2014, elaborated on why the latter diagnosis “shook” her.
“The doctor calls me to tell me what it is, and then I’m shook because I was a radiation therapist for 10 years,” Tammy said. “I knew where this could go. I knew what the outcomes could be. And it did scare me the second time with that diagnosis.”
The 61-year-old Tammy continued, “I never said this to him, but inside I carried a lot more worry and stress than what I let him know I think.”
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His cancer diagnosis has also led to him and his wife deciding to be more proactive with their time.
“We’re gonna go to Europe, we’re gonna go to Paris. We’re gonna get all this in because I don’t want to put all this off anymore,” Bradshaw said. “I may have 25, 30 years left, but I’m gonna act like I got one.”
The 74-year-old had a prominent NFL career as a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970-83, but he’s had even a longer career in broadcasting.
