Maple Leaf Jason Blake has rare leukemia

Last Updated: Monday, October 8, 2007 | 2:21 PM ET

CBC Sports

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake announced Monday that he has been diagnosed with a rare, treatable form of leukemia.

"This morning I shared with my teammates news that I was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia," Blake said in a statement issued by the club.

Jason Blake has two assists in three games with Toronto this season.
(Phillip McCallum/Getty Images)

"It is highly treatable, and I have begun taking a pill on a daily basis that has proven to be very effective in controlling this cancer. The prognosis, and certainly the expectations of my physician, myself and my family, is that I will live a long, full and normal life."

Blake signed a five-year, $20-million US deal with the Leafs after recording a career-high 40 goals with the New York Islanders last season.

Blake, 34, has yet to score for Toronto in three games but has contributed two assists.

"When you find out that you have something it's definitely shattering to your whole family and so on," Blake said after practice. "Overall I feel good. I'm still here and my goal this whole season hasn't changed. Obviously you take a step back and you kind of re-evaluate everything but for the most part I feel good.

"I think to get it off my chest and to move forward is a big weight lifted."

Noah Forman, Maple Leafs doctor, said Blake could continue playing and was not in any immediate danger.

"This is a form of leukemia [blood cancer] which is a slow growing cancer of the white blood cells. It has an incidence of 500 new cases diagnosed each year in Canada," said Forman.

Forman said in the statement that Blake had been treated at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.

The Maple Leafs return to action Tuesday at home against Carolina.