O’Neal’s chronic myelogenous leukemia is a rare, slow-progressing type of cancer that affects the bone marrow in mostly older adults, according to the Mayo Clinic. This type of cancer often goes undetected because it doesn’t always have symptoms. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, and sweating during sleep. A blood test typically detects chronic myelogenous leukemia. Although the cause of this type of leukemia is unknown, risk factors include being older, male, and exposed to radiation therapy. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are typically used to target and treat chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Because prostate cancer cells develop slowly, people often get diagnosed with prostate cancer in its earlier stages, according to the City of Hope Cancer Center. Prostate cancer is treatable in these early stages compared to stage 4, when it has spread to other parts of the body. Stage 4 (or metastatic) prostate cancer comes with symptoms such as bone pain, weight loss, or changes in patterns of urination. Surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, or chemotherapy are some of the treatments for metastatic prostate cancer.
In a YouTube video, O’Neal thanked the doctor who helped treat him. “I’m cancer-free, and I plan to stay that way,” he said. “The sky’s the limit.”