What Is Lupus Disease? Nick Cannon recalls the time lupus almost ended his life
3 min read
Courtesy of Fox /Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon has opened up about the time when lupus nearly took his life. A decade ago, the actor and host of The Nick Cannon Show had a close call with autoimmune disease – caused by a body’s immune system attacking its own organs and tissues.
During the talk show, Nick mentioned that ten years ago he had almost died from a sudden and mysterious illness.
“At the time, I was unaware it was Lupus. And, you know me, I always have to have a camera on.”
The American’s Got Talent also shared a video of his health journey, beginning with his initial diagnosis and continuing up to his present medical condition. In order to work towards better health, he also had to undergo professional and personal changes.
What is Lupus Nephritis?
Lupus Nephritis leads to the inflammation of the kidneys as a result of lupus. The disorder causes the kidneys to be incapable of removing waste from the blood and fails to control the body’s fluid balance. A condition called edema or swelling is caused by an abnormal accumulation of waste in the blood.
In untreated cases, lupus nephritis can permanently scar the kidneys and damage them, leading to kidney failure and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Moreover, the disease can create fatal complications without treatment.
Now that there is a treatment for both lupus and lupus nephritis, the disease can be kept under control. Lupus-related fatal complications can now be identified and managed with the help of modern treatment procedures and research.
The struggles Nick Cannon has faced with his health
The six-minute video titled “Nick’s 10-Year Health Journey” gave fans a glimpse into his experiences.
He describes the extreme pain and shortness of breath he experienced in the video, documenting his battle with lupus. In a video from January 2012, Nick Cannon showed footage of him playing with Mariah Carey, 52, outside in the snow. They were with their 10-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan.
Immediately after, he is rushed to the hospital after complaining of “sudden swelling, breathlessness, and excruciating pain on the right side.”
A doctor then discovered that Nick had two clots in his lungs as well as “a lot of edema” in his body’s tissues.
‘Drumline’ star said that it’s the last place you want to be. “Doctors telling you you could die.”
After being hospitalized for blood clots a month later, Nick was motivated to change everything about his life since his near-death experience. As a result of adopting a healthier diet, he hopes people can benefit from his experience.
Nick felt “blessed to be alive” after being hospitalized because, if doctors hadn’t identified lupus, he might not be here today. Zen, his five-month-old son, died from complications of lupus yesterday. Former Nickelodeon star opening up about his illness follows the tragic loss of Zen.
As a result of brain cancer, Nick lost his youngest child last month. He was diagnosed in August.
He also explained, he had to cancel several work appointments. Following a renal diet in order to maintain his kidneys and undergoing crucial treatments to remain alive.
Defeating Lupus
While Nick Cannon faced a challenging process, he focused on regaining his life despite battling his medical condition. Though Cannon has continued to battle his condition, he does not consider it a bad thing. He also expressed his hope that by sharing his own experience, he could help others.
In the same breath, he said it was pretty intense explaining that to Moroccan and Monroe, two 10-year-olds, and Golden, an 11-year-old. However, their understanding of the situation and being there for him aided him in keeping it together and coping with it. Even Roc and Roe helped him along the way. They stayed with him until the end.
Ankita Khanrah
Ankita Khanrah is a second-year student of the Master of Communication and Journalism (Integrated) programme at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed University, Bhubaneswar.
