Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Reveals He’s Now Cancer Free, Urges Black Men to Get Screened
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the 77-year-old basketball legend, recently admitted to having battled prostate cancer but is now cancer-free after early detection. Abdul-Jabbar made a powerful statement expressing gratitude for his survival, acknowledging the alarming rate of prostate cancer deaths among Black men and stressing the importance of routine screenings.
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Abdul-Jabbar, who has been a six-time NBA champion, shared his personal health story to raise awareness about the disease’s impact on Black men. At some point in their lives, 12.8% of men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. The risk of getting prostate cancer is 60% higher for black men, and they are two to three times more likely to die from it.
“Being Black means I’m more likely to suffer from diabetes, heart problems, obesity, cancer, and a shorter life in general,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote. “The more insidious and damaging threat to the health, lives, and economic well-being of Black Americans is a health care system that ignores the fact that, though they are most in need of medical services, they actually receive the lowest level.”
Abdul-Jabbar’s commentary highlights the systemic issues in healthcare access and treatment for Black Americans, which are not solely due to racial disparities in health outcomes. His message is clear: more men, particularly Black men, should prioritize regular cancer screenings to detect the disease early, just as he did.
Abdul-Jabbar aims to educate men on the importance of early detection and encourage them to take proactive steps to safeguard their health by sharing his journey. His message reminds us of the power of preventive care and calls for healthcare to be more equitable for everyone.
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