Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has recently gone public with his rare form of leukemia, a blood cancer known as chronic myelogenous leukemia.

For those who knew Abdul-Jabbar, it is not a surprise that the legend has already began to administer words of inspiration and advice.

“I’m doing very well,” he said. “But you have to find a specialist that understands your condition. You have to get your blood checked regularly. And you have to take your medication.  If you do that, you can manage this particular form of leukemia and live a very productive life with minimal intrusion into the things that you love to do,” he said.

He has become the spokesperson for the drug company that is treating his disease, urging people to go in for regular checkups and blood-work.

The cancer is indeed rare, with approximately 4,800 people diagnosed per year.  The survival rate for the first 5 years after diagnosis with a drug called imatinib sits at 89 percent.  Abdul-Jabbar is the spokesperson for Novartis, a pharmaceutical company that makes a proprietary form of imatib.

Abdul-Jabbar is 62-years-old, and has received news from his doctor that he will likely have the chance to live a full life.  He took inspiration from his ex-teammate Magic Johnson, who fought for HIV awareness after being diagnosed in 1991.

He also implored the U.S. government to take care of its less fortunate, who often cannot afford treatment.  With the new health bill in the works, Barack Obama’s reform just might take care of the demand.