Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders says he feels like his old self again nearly a year after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous bladder.Sanders said the robotic procedure, which also reconstructed his bladder with part of his intestine, helped him return to the sideline faster than he expected. He recently told The Associated Press he now considers himself "cancer-free" and said the recovery process changed his outlook on time, health and coaching.Last summer, Sanders was away from Boulder while he dealt with treatment. This year, he says he is healthier, more active, and more confident as he oversees the Buffs' offseason work. He said the procedure gave him time he otherwise would have lost."I was fighting at this time last year, Sanders told the AP. "I was walking out on the property with a bag of blood and also urine and trying to get back." He added that the surgery "got me back in the game" and called the robotic system his "time machine."Sanders also used the moment to raise awareness about men's health and the options available through minimally invasive surgery. He called the robotic system a "time machine" because it helped shorten his hospital stay and get him back to his team.On the field, Sanders said the program is in a better place, too. He pointed to the growth of quarterback Julian Lewis and the unity within the locker room as reasons for optimism heading into 2026."I have the best coaching staff I've ever featured. Everybody's unified," Sanders said.He also spoke about his son Shedeur Sanders, now with the Cleveland Browns, and Travis Hunter, saying simply, "I just want him to be happy."Colorado enters the season with renewed energy, and Sanders's message has been clear: the hardest stretch is over, and Colorado is moving forward.Follow James CarnesonFacebook,Instagram, and X.Contact/Follow us@BuffaloesWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookfor ongoing coverage ofColoradonews, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Deion Sanders says hes 'cancer-free' and ready for 2026 season