Abdul-Jabbar reaches out

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is intensely private regarding his personal life. So it came as a shock to the sports world this week when Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, announced he had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in December 2008.

Abdul-Jabbar, 62, said his prognosis is good. "I've never been a person to share my private life. But I can help save lives.

"It's incumbent on someone like me to talk about this."

Abdul-Jabbar played professional basketball for 20 years, mostly with the Los Angeles Lakers. His only serious injury during his pro career was a broken wrist.

Given his commitment to fitness and wellness, Abdul-Jabbar became concerned when he started to experience hot flashes and sweats. A medical examination revealed a "sky-high" white-blood-cell count, Abdul-Jabbar said, and later, a diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The disease is typically diagnosed in people in their mid- to late 60s, and generally affects men more than women.

Physicians told Abdul-Jabbar that CML can be managed with medication and monitoring. He is taking an oral medication for the disease made by the Swiss pharmaceutical manufacturer Novartis, for which he is a paid spokesman.

Abdul-Jabbar has maintained a demanding schedule since his diagnosis. He is a special assistant coach to the Los Angeles Lakers' centers. He is completing a documentary about the all-black Harlem Rens teams and is writing a children's book.

He also plans to post updates on his condition to his Facebook and Twitter accounts and connect with other CML patients through the Web site www.CMLearth.com.

Abdul-Jabbar said speaking out about the disease will inform others and encourage them to seek care. "You can continue to live a productive life without changing your lifestyle that much. It does not have to be a death sentence," Abdul-Jabbar told The New York Times.

He is, indeed, a picture of a man getting on with his life in the face of chronic illness. He also is serving an important function by informing the public about this disease. Both pursuits are highly commendable.