Former NBA Star Diagnosed with Leukemia
According to recent reports, former UCLA American and NBA star athlete, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 62, recently publicly announced that he has been diagnosed with leukemia. Abdul-Jabbar, who is known for being a private celebrity, was reportedly diagnosed last December but chose not to publicly talk about his fight with cancer until now. He tells reporters that he decided to go public about his health in order to help others who are also living with leukemia and other forms of cancer.
The type of leukemia diagnosis Abdul-Jabbar received is known as Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood that can be caused by benzene exposure and is one of the many cancers that doctors and researchers have not yet found a cure for. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is currently working as a special assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and says he is now taking oral medication to help treat his disease.
Background on Leukemia
Leukemia affects the blood cells in the body and can affect adults and children alike. When a person is diagnosed with leukemia it means their bone marrow is producing abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal white cells are known as leukemia cells. The white blood cells in the body are there to help fight off infection. Therefore, when someone receives a leukemia diagnosis it means they are at higher risk of infection since their white blood cells are not working properly.
Leukemia risk factors
One common risk regarding leukemia is radiation. Radiation can often cause acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, or acute lymphocytic leukemia. Studies and research have also linked many types of leukemia to benzene exposure. Benzene leukemia can be caused when someone inhales or ingests benzene, a toxic chemical that is added into gasoline, over an extended period of time. Though there is currently no cure for leukemia, there are ways to prevent and treat the disease.
so, studies and research have linked this type of leukemia to benzene exposure. Then, we got the new problem here, since benzene has been used everywhere worldwide. when you see a PVC, it's benzene. Styrene is also benzene. plastics are made of benzene. The question is, how do we deal with this thing? Benzene has been known as carsinogenic agent long long time ago. And what the experts did after that? Develope it and make money from that. It is like saying to the poor-guy, "Congratulation for your cancer. When will you die?"