NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar faces greatest challenge as he battles rare form of leukemia.
Abdul-Jabbar, 62, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, was diagnosed last December with chronic myeloid leukemia
Abdul-Jabbar said his doctor told him: "You have a very good chance to live your life out and not have to make any drastic changes to your lifestyle."
The former LA Laker is taking an oral medication for the disease and is a paid spokesman for the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which makes a drug treating the illness.
Abdul-Jabbar became concerned last year after feeling ill and went for tests at UCLA, where he dominated collegiate hoops in the 1960s with three straight NCAA championships.
"I was scared," he said. "I thought it could mean I have a month to live."
But doctors told him this form of leukemia, CML, was treatable with proper medication and monitoring.
"There is hope. This condition can be treated." Kareem said.
"I’m living proof I can make it."
POP FYI: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was known as Lew Alcindor in his NCAA days before becoming a Muslim. He also starred with Bruce Lee in Game of Death and was the co-pilot in comedy classic Airplane.
