Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the "Big Guy" many regard as the best basketball player in history, announced today that he has cancer. A very rare variety of blood cancer called chronic myeloid leukemia. But apparently it's treatable--he was diagnosed last December-- and he is expected to make a full recovery. Three-point swish for that! We send our thoughts and prayers to him and his family.
Now, part two, this is a delicate topic to bring up with the news so fresh and the tragedy so real, but as a blood cancer survivor myself, this excerpt from an AP article caught my eye:
Abdul-Jabbar is taking an oral medication for the disease. He is a paid spokesman for the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which makes a drug that treats the illness.
Citing the way Los Angeles Lakers teammate Magic Johnson brought awareness to HIV, Abdul-Jabbar said he wants to do the same for his form of blood cancer, which can be fatal if left untreated.
And from the same article:
"I've never been a person to share my private life. But I can help save lives," he said at a midtown Manhattan conference room. "It's incumbent on someone like me to talk about this."
So, if I'm putting this together: He was diagnosed last year. He's going public with this information now. He's a paid sponsor for makers of the drug he's taking for the disease.
Am I a horrible cynic to think that there's a link? And that this is actually nothing like Magic Johnson who came out about his illness at a time when it was a huge stigma and thought to affect mainly gay men and straight women? And when Magic came out I'm pretty sure he wasn't simultaneously raising awareness while being paid for it.
Those are all the facts I have, but something about it feels off to me. Even though, in fact I am someone who might directly benefit from new awareness and research dollars potentially going for the research of blood cancer.
As you well know, pharma companies are being questioned for showering doctors with vacations and gifts, and renowned medical journal companies like Elsevier are being discredited because they published articles--even entire new journals--by people secretly on drug companies' payrolls. Which brings up questions like: Should drug companies be allowed to advertise to the general public? Is wooing doctors to prescribe their drug harming patients who may not need that--or any--drug? Etc.
Bottom line: My heart is with Kareem for a full recovery, I applaud him for talking about this. And, also, I'd like more information the timing of his announcement and his arrangement with the company. It's a tough one for journalists, but it's an essential one for patients of all kinds.
[Image via: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4640518]
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This is the first time I have placed an opinion, but having observed doctors, nurses, hospitals, PPOs and HMOs all get access to the side effects and bad reactions. They use the "PDR" (year number_) that anyone can read also. I am of the opinion that the more information that gets out will help tone down grandiose claims and raise issues of dangerous side effects so the consumer can make an informed decision (also known as informed "consent").The more info out there the better as long as the talker talks with disclosure of who may or may not be compensated for his or her pronunciations. The more, the better health. As Sufferer of Ehler's Danlos Syndrome, in which every [ubiqutious (sp may be off)] collegen molecule (a protein) is defective making my joints, blood vessels, and teeth, skin, eyes everything with collegen. It is incurable; the treatment is to keep the patient from suffering the pain, and streachy parts, by treatments with physical therapy and that "no way" administration of medications that are called the "N" word (narcotics) NSAIDS can't be used because they increase the already blood-thin patients with more blood thinning NSAIDS to the stomach or given intramuscularly/intravenous routs of administration. I hope this word "Be suspicious." You the patient have the imperative to know things about your disease because you, ultimately are in charge of your health. Thanks for reading this atrociously written grammar and spelling. I have some deficeits from being on a ventillator for 30 days from the tiny amount of reflux of food/stomach material into my lungs which caused acute respiratory failure and 3 types of bacterial bleeding pneumonia. I don't know if this is the term but I'm getting micro-aspiration of reflux that causes hemmorhagic pneumonia. Gotta go sleep. Thanks for the forum. The "Wbl Wsr"
You do not have to drag around the label of cynic when it comes to awareness--he is visible and a vehicle--with consenting contracts that benefit both sides with a trickle down affect for the general public--thats the most we can hope for. Since I know nothing of sports and read your site every day--you are more visible--where is your contract? Where is my mothers now 83 who has a difficult time paying for her cancer meds--where is my daughters who needs insulin to survive. I also wonder why my own meds can be different prices at different drug stores and yet 4.00 at another larger retail establishment. I don't want to hear about tiers--the same should be offered to all. And all that lottery money from my state--seems to me that no one over 65 should have to pay a cent for their medication. My husband now 62 and me being 59 are undertaking the purchase of a larger house--it is a private deal since we have had layoffs and our credit scores are not the best how could they be? No institution would touch us and yet we are hard working reputable people. So someone is giving us a chance and we are doing all the physical work ourselves while currently working full time--we will still be working round the clock while pushing our walkers. But it is worth it for our existing parents to know they will be welcome if they are not able to be on their own--it has given them a sense of peace in a way and you can't put a price on that. Ok so many more tangents but to come full circle--yes the timing stinks for "The Big Guy". We need to be informed but the best information is worthless if the help is unattainable. Usually when I mention any proper names I get cancelled here so I will hint at a movie some years back that involved a tv station and a famous line that ended with "I'm just not gonna take it anymore!" If only huh?
Hi Gwendolyn,
Thanks for commenting (and reading!), but I'm not sure I get your gist, exactly. Are you saying it doesn't matter that he's sponsored by a drug company and speaking out, of that it does? And I'm not sure also what you mean by mentioning proper names--the only time we delete a comment here is when it's a really nasty, non-constructive post, which to my knowledge yours have never been. Which means it's a technical glitch I'll look into. Thanks for your feedback, Gwendolyn.
Valerie
Morning--I think what happens Valerie is that I get on a rant and then use 5,000 words possibly never coming to a point. Yes it does matter that he is sponsored by a drug company--it matters to me a great deal--if one has an obligation to health and the people--then just share and speak out--or keep private--but of course someone has to profit--business steps in. As far as other comments I have made--I guess when I use a proper name it goes for approval--and does not post immediately--and since I am usually running off to work--I re write it--I have been getting an error saying wrong text--but that is occasionally and I rewrite anyway or cut and paste--
Anyway--I have many blessings and things to be grateful for and I wish "The Big Guy" good health--I guess I want to see everyone be able to obtain medication and needed treatment as easily without worry and stress about whether to pay another bill or get that needed medication.
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