Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen diagnosed with cancer

WASHINGTON: Billionaire Paul Allen, who founded US software giant Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975, has been diagnosed with cancer, technology blogs reported on Monday.

Allen, 56, one of the wealthiest men in the world, has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, technology news sites said, quoting a letter from Allen's sister, Jody Allen.

"He received the diagnosis early this month and has begun chemotherapy," Jody Allen said in the letter to employees of her brother's company, Vulcan Inc.

"Doctors say he has diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a relatively common form of lymphoma," said Jody Allen, the chief executive of Vulcan Inc.

She recalled that her brother survived another bout with cancer 25 years ago.

"Paul is feeling OK and remains upbeat. He continues to work and he has no plans to change his role at Vulcan," she said.

Allen left Microsoft in 1983 and is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc. and the chairman of Charter Communications.

He owns the National Football League team the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association and is a part owner of the Major League Soccer team the Seattle Sounders.

Allen is also a leading philanthropist with donations totaling nearly one billion dollars.