HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, but says he is encouraged by his management of the disease.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer was diagnosed last December with chronic myeloid leukemia, a condition that he now hopes to educate the public on.
"I think it's possible for someone in my position to help save lives," Abdul-Jabbar told CNN upon announcing his cancer diagnosis Tuesday.
Abdul-Jabbar said he first realized something was wrong when he began having hot flashes and sweats. Tests later revealed that he was suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a condition that now requires him to check his blood levels on a regular basis.
The 7-foot-2 center would not disclose his prognosis, but told CNN he is managing his disease and that having CML "doesn't impact my life too significantly."
Abdul-Jabbar has since launched an educational campaign with the pharmaceutical company Novartis in an effort to raise awareness about the disease. The joint program came about after he discovered that some cancer patients fail to take their cancer medication on a regular basis.
"The message is simple: You have to have the expert advice of a specialist. You have to take your medicine and get your blood analyzed," he said.
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