Kareem Abdul Jabar
In November 2008, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML). Now he is going public with his diagnosis because he believes he can help other patients with the disease. Partnering with Novartis Oncology, Kareem is encouraging fellow patients with CML to work closely with their doctors to actively manage their disease for the best possible outcomes.
Kareem is being treated with a therapy that targets the abnormal protein that causes his disease.
About Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
CML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Approximately 5,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed this year. Until a few years ago, a diagnosis of CML could mean a patient had only a few years or months left to live. Because of new treatments, it is now considered a serious, but manageable cancer for many.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of basketball’s greatest players of all time. Famous for his indefensible skyhook, he dominated the NBA for 20 years, first with the Milwaukee Bucks then with the Los Angeles Lakers. Before that he was the star of the UCLA Bruins. Kareem was the NBA's MVP six times, a 19-time All-Star and set the NBA all-time records in nine categories and was chosen The Greatest Player in College Basketball History. Kareem retired as a player in 1989 and today, at age 62, Kareem is the special assistant coach for the Lakers. Kareem is also the author of six bestselling history books.
Kareem is a long-time advocate of cancer education, having first-hand experience of the devastating impact of cancer. He not only lost a friend to a different, more aggressive type of leukemia, but colon cancer took the life of Kareem’s grandfather in 1929, an uncle in 1983 and nearly took his father’s life in 1990.
Kareem is being treated with a therapy that targets the abnormal protein that causes his disease.
About Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
CML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Approximately 5,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed this year. Until a few years ago, a diagnosis of CML could mean a patient had only a few years or months left to live. Because of new treatments, it is now considered a serious, but manageable cancer for many.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of basketball’s greatest players of all time. Famous for his indefensible skyhook, he dominated the NBA for 20 years, first with the Milwaukee Bucks then with the Los Angeles Lakers. Before that he was the star of the UCLA Bruins. Kareem was the NBA's MVP six times, a 19-time All-Star and set the NBA all-time records in nine categories and was chosen The Greatest Player in College Basketball History. Kareem retired as a player in 1989 and today, at age 62, Kareem is the special assistant coach for the Lakers. Kareem is also the author of six bestselling history books.
Kareem is a long-time advocate of cancer education, having first-hand experience of the devastating impact of cancer. He not only lost a friend to a different, more aggressive type of leukemia, but colon cancer took the life of Kareem’s grandfather in 1929, an uncle in 1983 and nearly took his father’s life in 1990.