The technosphere was abuzz yesterday after The Wall Street Journal announced that Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
This is not his first battle with cancer. Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease -- a different type of lymphoma -- in the early '80s.
Mr. Allen co-founded Microsoft Corporation with Bill Gates in 1975 and remained the company’s chief technologist until he left Microsoft in 1983. Mr. Allen is also the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc., which oversees Mr. Allen’s business and philanthropic efforts. He has interests in real estate and more than 40 energy, technology, media and content companies.
Mr. Allen also owns the Seattle Seahawks NFL and Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchises and is part of the primary ownership group for the Seattle Sounders FC Major League Soccer franchise.
Mr. Allen has also made nearly $1 billion in philanthropic donations through the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science, which has sought to advance neuroscience by mapping gene expression in the mouse brain. In 2004, the SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded effort to successfully put a civilian in suborbital space, was established by Allen with a grant of $100 million US.
Allen is the
32nd richest person in the world according to Forbes magazine.
According to the
American Cancer Society website,
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (also called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, NHL, or just lymphoma) is cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body's immune system. Lymphocytes are in the lymph nodes and other lymphoid tissues (such as the spleen and bone marrow).
More specifically, Allen is suffering from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma:
This kind makes up about 1 out of every 3 cases of lymphoma. The cells are large, and the cancer often grows quickly. It can affect any age group but is mostly found in older people. About half of all people who have this kind of lymphoma are cured with treatment. Cure is most likely if the lymphoma was found in only one part of the body (localized).
Vulcan CEO Jody Allen, who is also Paul Allen's sister, issued a
statement to all employees and the media yesterday:.
To employees of Vulcan and affiliates:
I want to let you know that Paul was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
He received the diagnosis early this month and has begun chemotherapy. Doctors say he has diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a relatively common form of lymphoma.
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.
Paul is feeling OK and remains upbeat. He continues to work and he has no plans to change his role at Vulcan. His health comes first, though, and we'll be sure that nothing intrudes on that.
We would ask you to respect Paul's privacy and not discuss this outside of the office.
If you have any questions, please ask your EC member.
Thank you in advance for what I know will be all your good thoughts for Paul.
Allen has begun chemotherapy.
