Published 09:05 IST, October 3rd 2018
Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen Diagnosed With Cancer For The Third Time
Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and a renowned philanthropist, has been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer which affects the white blood cells. This is the third time that he has been diagnosed with cancer, after 1983 and 2009.
Nine years after he successfully defeated cancer for the second time, Microsoft Corporation co-founder, Paul Allen, has been diagnosed with the life-threatening tumor for the third time in his life.
Allen has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has already started treatments for the same. Having a positive outlook, Allen said that it is a part of life and that he is ready to fight this cancer 'aggressively'. The field of medicine has developed considerably when Paul overcame this deadly disease in 2009. He is affirmative that the latest technologies and therapies will prove beneficial and he will successfully recover from it for the third time too.
WHO IS PAUL ALLEN?
Paul Allen and Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975. In 1983, Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which affects the body's ability to fight infections. Subsequently, he left the company to get treated for cancer. After a successful recovery, Allen started a private company, Vulcan Inc, in 1986 to oversee his diverse philanthropic activities in different fields.
He has a multibillion-dollar portfolio and owns sports teams Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA). He also founded Allen Institute for Brain Science, Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Institute for Cell Science. He is a prime patron of Seattle, which funds every institution from universities, libraries to hospitals and churches. His latest endeavour, Stratolaunch Systems Corp, makes machines and rockets for use in space.
Allen is known for his philanthropic work and goodwill for humanity. He has numerous awards and honorary degrees to his name. Paul currently ranks 44th on the Forbes' list of billionaires in 2018.
WHAT IS NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA?
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphone (NHL) is a cancer affecting the white blood cells in the body. Though the treatments continue to get advanced, successful treatment of NHL is very difficult. The recent developments in medicine have come out with a new way of treating such cancers, which has otherwise become immune to traditional treatments.
Immunotherapy has been proven to be an effective treatment for NHL, which eradicates the cancer cells. It trains the body's natural immune system to attack the cancer cells in the body aggressively.
The Nobel Prize in Medicine 2018 was awarded to two scientists, James P. Allison and Tasuku Honko, for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation i.e. Immunotherapy treatment.
Updated 20:52 IST, October 3rd 2018