NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been diagnosed with blood cancer.

“I have chronic myeloid leukemia,” the 62-year-old Hall-of-Famer said on Monday, announcing that he was first diagnosed almost a year ago.

The decision to go public with his disease was in hopes of helping others who may be struggling with cancer.

“My grandfather died from colorectal cancer, my uncle died from colorectal cancer and my father almost died from colorectal cancer,” Abdul-Jabbar says.

“I think it’s possible for someone in my position to help save lives.”

Although Abdul-Jabbar hasn’t revealed his prognosis, he is undergoing the treatment required to ensure that his quality of life will continue to be largely unaffected by the illness.

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