Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Has Cancer
November 10, 2009
NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, currently a coach with the Lakers, announced early this morning that he has cancer. His announcement comes nearly a year after being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia.
“Having lost one of my closest friends to a different, highly aggressive form of leukemia, I knew how serious my diagnosis was. My own life expectancy became a question mark.”
Abdul-Jabbar was diagnosed with CML in December 2008 and is being treated with a medicine that targets the abnormal protein that causes his leukemia.
With treatment Abdul-Jabbar is expected to live a full, active life.
The Abdul-Jabbar, 62-year-old father of five, said he came forward after learning many patients don’t regularly take their medication and skip appointments to the doctor.
“I’m telling my story to encourage fellow patients to take charge of their health. Work closely with your doctor, monitor your disease and, above all, take your medicine.”
Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring in 1989.
photo: Wenn.com
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:57 pm
I would like to know the name of the medicine that Kareem is taking.