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Living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can feel isolating. If lupus has caused kidney damage and you’ve been diagnosed with lupus nephritis, you might feel even more alone at times. It can help to know that others are going through similar experiences.
Lupus nephritis affects 89 percent of adults and about 11 percent of children under 18 — including celebrities. Here are three famous people who have been diagnosed with lupus nephritis.
Singer, actress, and cookbook author Selena Gomez announced in 2015 that she was being treated for lupus. Two years later, she shared on Instagram that she’d received a kidney transplant due to lupus nephritis. Gomez’s close friend, Francia Raisa, donated one of her kidneys. While her lupus went into remission, Gomez has since experienced flare-ups.
In a 2017 interview with Today, Gomez shared, “I’ve been through so much in the past few years. It’s been a very humbling experience, and I’m grateful to be alive.”
Gomez works hard to manage lupus symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and fevers. She also prioritizes her mental health, going to therapy and relying on her close friends and family for support. “I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks, and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges,” she told People in 2019.
Gomez continues to navigate life with lupus nephritis and mental health issues while raising awareness for lupus. She has joined the Lupus Research Alliance’s Lift Up Lupus campaign to spotlight World Lupus Day.
“World Lupus Day is the moment when two causes I passionately support — lupus research and mental health awareness — intersect,” she said. “LRA’s Lift Up Lupus campaign raises awareness of a little-understood disease and lets those of us who live with lupus know we have a lot to be hopeful about.”
Television host, actor, and comedian Nick Cannon was diagnosed with lupus nephritis in 2012. He first noticed symptoms like fatigue and swollen knees while on vacation in Colorado. At first, he thought his symptoms might be due to the higher elevation, but he later developed kidney pain and trouble breathing. After going to the hospital, he learned he had lupus nephritis.
Cannon worked with his doctors to create a plan to manage his symptoms. “It was explained to me that it was an autoimmune disease, and if I managed it properly and took the proper medicine, it wasn’t life-threatening,” he told the Lupus Foundation of America.
To prevent flare-ups and keep his health condition stable, Cannon made lifestyle changes. “I had to be extremely careful, get on the proper diet, get the proper rest, and take care of my body. That way, I’d be able to fight it,” he said.
Throughout his journey, Cannon has become an advocate for others living with lupus. “A lot of people told me I shouldn’t share and I should keep [my lupus diagnosis] private — that it could affect my work and insurance and all that, but I feel like this happened to me so I can be an inspiration, and I can talk about it,” he explained.
When asked what advice he’d give to someone newly diagnosed with lupus, Cannon said, “Get as much education on the disease as possible. That helps build your self-esteem and confidence. The more you know and the better you take care of yourself, the easier it is to deal with.”
Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon was diagnosed with lupus when she was 15 years old. She learned to manage symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, and a butterfly rash. Over time, however, the disease began to attack her organs. Eventually, the actor, dancer, writer, and cocreator of the TV show “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” was diagnosed with lupus nephritis.
To manage symptoms such as leg swelling, kidney pain, and brain fog, Whedon wears compression stockings and has undergone chemotherapy, among other management strategies.
“There have been times when I’ve succumbed to feeling hopeless or just plain angry about all of it. And alone,” she said about managing her lupus nephritis. “Then there are moments … that remind me I’m not alone.”
Whedon continues to raise awareness about lupus. She participates in events like the LA Lupus Walk and helps raise funds for the condition.
“Every year during May, I do my part to raise lupus awareness, from conversations with friends and family to always wearing my purple during Lupus Awareness Month and definitely on Put on Purple Day,” she said.
Celebrities with lupus nephritis face many of the same challenges as anyone else with the condition, they just do it in the public eye. For many people, this may help bring attention to the autoimmune disease.
“When I realized Selena Gomez has the condition, I felt more connected to her,” one MyLupusTeam member wrote. Another said, “By being transparent, she brought awareness and helped others. That definitely played a role in saving my life. I wouldn't have known enough to even ask about a test! Knowledge is power!”
Another member said that they hope celebrities sharing their lupus journeys will lead to new therapies for the condition. “I don’t get inspired by celebrities in general, but it’s great for spreading awareness and, even more importantly, for finding drugs that will help our conditions … I always hope their influence leads to more funding for research.”
MyLupusTeam is the social network for people with lupus and their loved ones. On MyLupusTeam, more than 234,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with lupus.
Can you relate to these celebrities’ experiences? Do you know of other famous people living with lupus nephritis? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.
Torrey Kim
is a freelance writer with MyHealthTeam.
Learn more about her here.
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