SELENA GOMEZ REVEALS SHE HAS LUPUS

Tons of rumours arose in 2013 when the singer, Selena Gomez cancelled her tour. Numerous reports claimed the cancellation of her tours was as a result of her battle with substance abuse.

Selena referring to this period in late 2013 and early 2014 told Billboard magazine, “I was diagnosed with lupus, and I’ve been through chemotherapy. That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke,"

So while the rumours of addiction spread, the 23year old star battled being diagnosed with an auto immune disease. In her interview with Billboard she also said “I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy. You’re assholes.' I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again,"

Although the singer did not elaborate on her current state of health, she spoke to US weekly about how she has been dealing with the changes in her body. "This was the first year I ever dealt with anyone talking about my body…I'd land at the airport and people would yell out, 'You're fat!' It was awful. I've been working in therapy. Even if I did gain weight, I'm fine’’.

The ‘Good for you’ singer also revealed that negative comments about her body was the motivation and inspiration to pose all nude on the cover of her new album ‘Revival’.

It’s quite unfortunate how insensitive the society can be, the expectation that women especially celebrities have to become stick figures to be seen as perfect is rather absurd. We wish the beautiful singer the best in all she does and pray for her good health.

DO KNOW ABOUT LUPUS?

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, it is an auto immune disease that can affect any part of the body especially the skin, blood, joints and kidney. Instead of fighting off viruses and bacteria with antibodies, the immune system of those suffering from lupus create autoantibodies that attack their healthy tissues instead. Symptoms can include fatigue, fever, weight loss, painful joints, rash, hearing loss, anaemia, abnormal bloating and mouth ulcers.

Treatment of this disease depends on its intensity, while milder cases can be treated with immunosuppressants or anti – inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and steroids the more severe cases can be treated with chemotherapy. Dr Joan Merrill, the medical director of the Lupus Foundation of America has said that the disease is very unpredictable but can be managed with proper treatment.