Abdul-Jabbar suffers from migraines,[238] and his use of cannabis to reduce the symptoms has had legal ramifications.[239] In November 2009, Abdul-Jabbar announced that he was suffering from a form of leukemia, Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The disease was diagnosed in December 2008, but Abdul-Jabbar said his condition could be managed by taking oral medication daily, seeing his specialist every other month, and having his blood analyzed regularly. He expressed in a 2009 press conference that he did not believe the illness would stop him from leading a normal life.[240][241] Abdul-Jabbar is a spokesman for Novartis, the company that produces Gleevec, his cancer medication,.[242]