Getting the news of a cancer diagnosis is never a good one. Sometimes the biology of this illness will dictate the course of events that are often beyond one’s control. Still, no matter how difficult the circumstances may seem, one needs to have faith and be brave enough to welcome the life that’s waiting for them.

Anyone can be at risk of developing cancer, even NBA players who are conscious about their body shape and health. The thing about cancer is it seems as if there’s no rhyme or reason why some people get cancer and others don’t. Sure there are certain lifestyle factors that may influence the likelihood of cancer or not. If some of the world’s greatest athletes can acquire cancer then we all can get it right? Not necessarily.

We delve into the stories of NBA players who were diagnosed with cancer, battled it and how some of them survived it. In the process, we share stories of hope and courage experienced by NBA players who went against the odds and fought back against the disease.

The NBA is full of people with extraordinary stories of strength, resilience, and courage. These people have stories to tell as some battle severe diseases like cancer.

Similar to other cancers, mesothelioma is one type of cancer that is aggressive. Understanding cancer through the eyes of these NBA stars may help people adapt to the different mesothelioma stages and how to move forward after being diagnosed with this severe disease.

NBA Players and Their Battle Against Cancer

News of getting cancer is harrowing, and nobody wants to be on the receiving end of such a diagnosis. No fewer than 40 NBA players have been diagnosed, survived and have died from the deadly disease some of them way too early.

Thank you to John Grasso, Robert Bradley, Bill Hoover, David Bender and Frank Lawler of APBR.org for their exhaustive research on former basketball players.

Among those players, a few NBA legends were no strangers to this kind of news, which changed their lives forever. The list includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Paul Wesphal, Zelmo Beatty, Jack Twyman and Dikembe Mutombo.

Dikembe Mutombo is an icon in the defensive court. His finger-wagging taunt, telling opponents, “not in my court” as he blocks their shots became legendary in the league. In October 2022, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and everything seemed to stop for him. He was surrounded by his family and requested the media for privacy as Mutombo entered a new phase in his life. People close to him said he’s receiving the best care through a collaborative team and is in great spirits as he undergoes treatment.

Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, another legendary icon of the NBA, is one of the all-time scorers of the league. He was diagnosed with Philadelphia Chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, which changed his world. What’s remarkable is that he defeated leukemia and prostate cancer. It’s a feat accomplished by the NBA icon through proper medical attention and a possible attitude toward cancer research treatments.

Cancer causes seem to come from different factors. But some types of cancer, like mesothelioma, are directly linked to environmental factors like asbestos exposure. Though there are no known cases of NBA players acquiring this kind of disease, cases of asbestos exposure may still happen.

In 2012, a basketball training facility for the Olympics was reported to have been constructed on top of asbestos-rich land. This incident became a serious issue as exposure to asbestos is extremely dangerous. Asbestos is a toxic material that can directly cause mesothelioma to develop in people who are exposed to this substance.

Mesothelioma strikes the smooth lining of the lung and abdomen and, if not treated promptly, can quickly spread and become extremely serious. Understanding that cancer can destroy a person’s life ahead is crucial for us to know how to support our loved ones during this crisis. Life lessons can be extracted from the lives of NBA greats who had the disease but kept fighting.

Things to Learn From Their Stories

What can one learn from some of the NBA greats as they battle cancer? Dikembe Mutombo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have some advice on how they deal with life after a cancer diagnosis.

Appreciate the ongoing research against cancer Kareem appreciates the time he has now after being diagnosed with leukemia. He understands that he is lucky to live at a time when there’s cancer research. Kareem has stated that if he had been born at another primitive time, the news of cancer would have been a sure death sentence.

“It is a very frightening situation,” Kareem told Coping Magazine. “The word leukemia, to me at the time, was like a death sentence. Here I am thinking that maybe I am seeing the last days of my life.” But he soon learned that his type of cancer could be managed with targeted therapy.

Enjoy things in life that don’t need a lot of money Some things don’t need much money but can make a big difference in one’s life after a cancer diagnosis. Spending quality time with loved ones, like going to the movies and living expectantly, can immensely improve one’s outlook.

Get surrounded by caring people Kareem and Dikembe have surrounded themselves with loving people, deeply caring for their safety and well-being. Upon getting the news of cancer, it’s best to keep in touch with people who genuinely care. Individuals with cancer should also gather all their strength to move forward and carry on.

Get in touch with many cancer community groups Organizations like the American Cancer Society are excellent sources of cancer help. People with cancer can seek assistance from this community and find the best solutions to live their lives to the fullest despite their sickness.

At the end of the day, when one finds out they have cancer, one should seek advice from medical professionals. They should know what stage of cancer they are in, as each stage has a chance of ridding the disease through treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.

Also, aside from getting in touch with professionals, individuals with cancer should connect with people who genuinely care. Those kinds of people will give one strength to move on and make each moment after their diagnosis worth living.