Former Lakers star kareem abdul jabbar has cancer

Hall of Famer and Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar revealed during an interview Monday that he has Philadelphia chromosome-postive chronic myeloid leukemia, a form of the cancerous blood condition that impacts blood and bone marrow.

While Kareem admits the initial diagnosis, made last December, was understandably frightening, fortunately the disease can be managed and his long term prognosis is positive. He has no plans to curtail his wide ranging activities, from writing to documentary filmmaking to possibly joining the coaching staff of the Memphis Grizzlies. The hope, Kareem said in a Monday interview, is that being open about his diagnosis will encourage others to be proactive about their health.

Click here for some information about chronic myeloid leukemia from the American Cancer Society, one of many educational options offered by a Google search. The news that his condition is a treatable one should certainly ease the minds of not only Kareem and his family, but Lakers fans as well.