5 Celebrities With Lupus and How They Cope With It

Lupus can affect anybody, and celebrities are no exception. According to The Johns Hopkins Lupus Center, around 1 in 2,000 people in the United States have lupus, and 9 out of 10 diagnoses occur in women. Although there’s no cure for the disease, those affected can still live a high-quality life. Here are five celebrities who have lupus.

1. Lady Gaga

You may be surprised to learn that American singer, songwriter, and actress Lady Gaga tested borderline positive for lupus in 2010. While she has never shown symptoms, she said in an interview that she has to take good care of herself due to her test result and because her aunt died of the disease. People who have a relative with the disease have a higher chance of developing it, although there is a chance for lupus to remain dormant for many years and even one’s entire lifetime.

2. Selena Gomez

American actress and singer Selena Gomez has been very vocal about her lupus diagnosis. As a result of the disease, she got a kidney transplant, donated by her best friend in 2017. Selena has had to undergo chemotherapy and cancel tours due to lupus flare-ups, and take significant time off from work to get well. She continues to raise awareness for the disease, make donations to research, and encourage her followers to support the fight against lupus.

3. Seal

Award-winning English singer and songwriter Seal was 23 when he first developed facial scarring, signs of a specific type of lupus called discoid lupus erythematous. Unlike other celebrities, he isn’t as outspoken about the disease and, instead, channels his pain and suffering in his music.

4. Nick Cannon

For the nights when the winds are as restless as you

American rapper, actor, comedian, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and notably Mariah Carey’s ex-husband, Nick Cannon, was diagnosed with lupus in 2012. He experienced severe symptoms of the disease, including kidney failure and blood clots in his lungs. Lupus caused him to overhaul his life, and today he stresses the importance of a healthy diet and taking preventive measures to avoid or reduce flare-ups. He believes lupus is a disease that can be managed and even overcome with good lifestyle choices and a strong support system.

5. Toni Braxton

The Grammy-award-winning “Unbreak My Heart” singer, Tony Braxton, was first diagnosed with lupus in 2011 and has been very open with her struggles, saying that she sometimes finds herself laying in bed all day due to fatigue and pain. In interviews, she compared having lupus to having the flu every day while feeling fine on other days. Although she has had to stay at the hospital multiple times, she has never allowed her disease to interfere with her work and has never canceled a show as a result.

According to researchers, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span and a good-quality life despite the disease. While some people experience mild to even nonexistent symptoms, others have severe flare-ups. Although no cure has yet been developed, close monitoring, treatment, and healthy lifestyle choices can make living with the disease manageable as proven by the above-mentioned celebrities.

1. Lady Gaga

2. Selena Gomez

3. Seal

4. Nick Cannon

For the nights when the winds are as restless as you

5. Toni Braxton

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