Jason Blake Diagnosed with Leukemia

  • Thread starter Thread starter henryb8249
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That really stinks, but the article sounds really positive that it won't slow him down much, if at all. I've had the chance to talk with Jason, a great guy to talk hockey with. Wish him all the best.
 
ZP9 said:
That really stinks, but the article sounds really positive that it won't slow him down much, if at all. I've had the chance to talk with Jason, a great guy to talk hockey with. Wish him all the best.
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Shawn

Thanks for the informed insight & addition to this thread..

All the best to the Blake family and especially Jason for a speedy recovery.

Brian
 
It's not as big a deal as is being made of it. It's not all that uncommon a cancer in the first place, and quite treatable - we have a couple of new dynamite pills that do the trick quite nicely for this disease. We have a couple of older treatments that are also quite effective, if a little more taxing to the system.

What troubles me is that this is usually a disease of older people - 5th and 6th decades of life - so what's a 20something doing with it?
 
quincy said:
It's not as big a deal as is being made of it. It's not all that uncommon a cancer in the first place, and quite treatable - we have a couple of new dynamite pills that do the trick quite nicely for this disease. We have a couple of older treatments that are also quite effective, if a little more taxing to the system.

What troubles me is that this is usually a disease of older people - 5th and 6th decades of life - so what's a 20something doing with it?
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Heh - its not a big deal to someone who has gone to medical school. As a member of the great unwashed who hasn't - I'd rather be kicked repeatedly in the face than have someone I love tell me they have cancer again. No matter that it didn't turn out to be serious, or have any lingering effects beyond surgery.

Blake's 34, I believe, not tapping on the door of his 5th decade yet, but well out of his 20s.
 
quincy said:
It's not as big a deal as is being made of it. It's not all that uncommon a cancer in the first place, and quite treatable - we have a couple of new dynamite pills that do the trick quite nicely for this disease. We have a couple of older treatments that are also quite effective, if a little more taxing to the system.

What troubles me is that this is usually a disease of older people - 5th and 6th decades of life - so what's a 20something doing with it?
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Quincy;

Although it doesn't seem to be that serious I can tell you from experence (My mom is going through it right now) That it's not a fun disease. The doctors are telling her that she'd get through it no problem but she's still having all the symptoms of a normal cancer patient ie. weight loss, loss of hair ect. I hope nothing but the best for Jason Blake and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time.
 
I didn't realize Blake was a bit older.

As far as cancers go...look, if someone told me I had to pick a cancer to have, CML would not be first but would definitely be on the shortlist. Not trying to make light of it, just trying to add perspective.
 
I don't know, to me this seems pretty serious:

A July, 2006 medical article
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic371.htm
Recently, the prognosis of patients with CML has improved from an expected median survival of 3 years and a 5-year survival rate of less than 20% to a median survival of 5 or more years and a 5-year survival rate of 50-60%. The improvement is due to earlier diagnosis, improved therapy with interferon and BMT, and better supportive care. A German study of 139 low-risk patients with CML, according to the Sokal index, shows that the median survival with busulfan is 6 years (50 patients), with hydroxyurea is 6.5 years (55 patients), and with interferon alfa is approximately 9.5 years (34 patients), indicating improvement in survival with new therapy.

Not quite sure how reliable anything you find on the internet is, but it seems this condition could actually shorten his life. If anything, I feel the media is taking it too lightly (from what I've read).
 
Quincy;

I know your not trying to make light of it, it's the media who are pissing me off basically making it out to be like any other hockey related injury when it's real life and Jason has to wake up every day knowing he is living with this life threating disease.
 
I think what Steve is inferring is that there are far worse cancers to be diagnosed with. One that comes to mind is Pancreatic, not only is the cancer painful and life debilitating, but the treatment is unbearable.
Having two inmates with this particular cancer I can attest to the ease of treatment, and how one can basically carry on with ADL’s and a semi-normal life. As for playing hockey, one can only wait and see how they respond to treatment. But in listening to Mr. Blake talk about his condition, he feels confident that his treatment will not interfere with his ability to play. Purely a person by person outlook and how you feel.
As for the media down playing the condition, I think it centers more on how Mr. Blake handled his press conference; his confidence may have mislead the media. More of an optimistic view of the situation than down playing (I think) the cancer. I for one think that Mr. Blakes’ attitude is one of a true hockey player mentality, in other words, never say die, never quit. I’m hopeful he will recover, continue to play, and provide for his family, he just seems to have that going for him.
 

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