TV host, rapper, and actor, Nick Cannon took to Instagram to share an image from a medical treatment he underwent amid his ongoing battle with the autoimmune disease lupus.
‘Constant reminder that health is the real wealth!!!’ the Masked Singer host, 43, said in the post, adding the hashtag #lupuswarrior.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Lupus ‘is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs.’
The clinic said that ‘inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems – including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs;’ and ‘while there’s no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms.’
Cannon first publicly revealed the health battle in January of 2012, explaining how his diagnosis came to be.
‘Ten years ago, I experienced a sudden and mysterious illness that almost took my life; at the time, I had no idea it was lupus,’ he said in the segment.
Cannon continued, ‘I always have to have a camera on … so I would literally open up my phone, grab my camera and I would talk to the camera, and I documented the entire health journey.’
Cannon said that critical health issues bubbled to the surface while he was on a vacation with his family, as he experienced symptoms including swelling, pain, and shortness of breath.
Doctors subsequently told Cannon that he was dealing with multiple severe medical issues, including kidney failure and blood clots in his lungs.
‘It’s the last place you wanna be, man – doctors telling you you could die,’ he said.
The health issues at the time led Cannon to step back from his busy work schedule to restore his health.