NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has gone public with his fight against cancer. Nearly a year ago (December 2008) he learned that he had chronic myeloid leukemia.

“Having lost one of my closest friends to a different, highly aggressive form of leukemia, I knew how serious my diagnosis was,” said Abdul-Jabbar, 62. “My own life expectancy became a question mark.”

With treatment that targets the abnormal protein that causes his leukemia, Abdul-Jabbar is expected to live a normal life. So why is he coming forward with his diagnosis after almost a year of keeping it private?

“I’m telling my story to encourage fellow patients to take charge of their health,” he said. “Work closely with your doctor, monitor your disease and, above all, take your medicine.”

We wish him the best of health.

[Images by Nikki Nelson/ WENN.com]

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