Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Trail Blazers, Seahawks owner Allen diagnosed with cancer

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) – Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the owner of the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle Seahawks, has been diagnosed with non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The 56-year-old Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in 1983, but after undergoing radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant, he was successfully treated.

Allen currently runs Vulcan Inc., a private asset management company.

Vulcan CEO Jody Allen, Paul’s sister, wrote a memo to employees of the company detailing her brother’s condition.

CNET’s news Web site posted the memo. In it, she said Allen received the diagnosis early this month and has started chemotherapy.

“Doctors say he has diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a relatively common form of lymphoma,” the memo read on CNET’s site. “This is tough news for Paul and the family. But for those who know Paul’s story, you know he beat Hodgkin’s a little more than 25 years ago and he is optimistic he can beat this, too.”