Sometimes, one phone call is enough to stop time. For Sam Deroo, this happened at the end of November. His life – literally – was put on pause. The diagnosis was merciless: cancer recurrence. For the captain of the Belgian national team and outside hitter for Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, where his teammate is Bulgarian international Simeon (Mony) Nikolov, this was a blow that could not be compared to any loss on the court.

"It hit me like a bomb," admits the 33-year-old volleyball player. And yet, he speaks – frankly, humanly, without pretense. About the fear, about the nights in the hospital, about the first chemotherapy, about the thought:"Wake me up from this nightmare."

From a "minor problem" to a nightmare

It all started back in 2024, when Deroo was in Russia. One evening, sitting at home, he felt a lump in his testicle. Initially, doctors reassured him – probably nothing serious. But subsequent examinations in Leuven were definitive: testicular cancer.

Surgery – on the same day. The testicle was removed. After that – good news. No need for additional therapy. The follow-up check-ups were clear. The risk of recurrence – minimal. Sam returned to the court and, in his words, treated everything as a "normal injury." Four or five weeks later, he was playing again.

Until that scan at the end of November.

"I lay in the machine, feeling great. I thought it was a formality," he recounts. A few days later, the phone rang. The bad cells had remained in the lymph nodes. The disease had silently fed itself. And it had returned.

Three cycles against the disease

This time there's no quick return. The plan is clear: three tough cycles of chemotherapy. Sam has already completed the first one. He is currently in a recovery period and, as he says himself, "feels relatively well." He spends the holidays with his family. Side effects so far are tolerable.

The prognosis? More than good.
Over 90 percent chance of full recovery.

"That's what we're holding onto," says Deroo. "We're looking ahead. My professor told me that about two months after the end of the therapy, I can be physically ready again. And if there's one thing I have, it's determination."

The toughest battle is in the head

Physical pain is one thing. Mental pain is quite another.

"The first few days were very difficult. Especially when the club announced the news and the entire volleyball world reacted. That was tough," admits the Belgian.

The strongest memory remains the first chemotherapy: the hospital bed, his partner beside him, the first IV drip with medications. A moment he will never forget.

"We will have to live with the fear going forward. Every follow-up check-up will be a moment of tension," says Sam. "But I'm young, my body is strong."

And he's not alone. His brother and his lawyer shaved their heads in a show of support. Deroo himself lost his hair on Christmas Day.
"My son saw me bald and said I looked scary," he smiles sadly. "But people get used to it. And the support is immense."

Novosibirsk, Moni Nikolov and the support

In this difficult moment, Lokomotiv Novosibirsk stands firmly behind him. The club is not looking for his replacement. The support is complete – human and professional. In Siberia, alongside Moni Nikolov, Dero feels he is not just a player, but part of a family.

"I am very grateful for the way the club communicates everything. This gives me extra strength. I hope to be able to help the team at the end of the season," says the Belgian.

Volleyball is a game of strength, technique, and character.

Today, however, titles and statistics give way to a human battle. Sam Dero is not just healing his body – he is preparing for a comeback. Not just as a volleyball player, but as a victor over the toughest opponent life can send you.

photo: Sporza.BE