Health

These Celebrities Were Diagnosed with Life Changing Illnesses

8. Michael J. Fox Actor Michael J. Fox had to quit acting, his passion, after 30 years of dealing with Parkinson’s Disease. The theater had to… Trista - June 22, 2022

8. Michael J. Fox

Actor Michael J. Fox had to quit acting, his passion, after 30 years of dealing with Parkinson’s Disease. The theater had to take a back seat as this disease started to impact his memory and his ability to speak. While going through all of this, he remains optimistic about his future with the disease even though there isn’t a cure for it yet. The Back to the Future star indeed fought to keep his acting career going as long as possible even though his doctor said he would only be able to act for ten more years – he pushed that all the way to 30 years. However, he acknowledges how “weird” it is that he’s done so well with it.

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7. Jada Pinkett Smith

If you don’t know about Jada Pinkett Smith’s battle with alopecia, you’ve been living under a rock! Her struggle with hair loss was brought to light at the 2022 Oscars when Will Smith and Chris Rock were involved in an altercation surrounding a joke about her condition. Even though there has been drama around this revelation, she hasn’t let it stop her from living her best life. Jada, known for acting and being the Red Table Talk host, shows off her incredible skin and frequently updates her followers on her hair loss journey caused by the autoimmune disorder alopecia.

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6. Montel Williams

Montel Williams, TV personality and now chronic illness advocate, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999. However, before finding out what he had, he remained undiagnosed for 20 years with shocking symptoms like feeling as though his feet were on fire. To Montel, his diagnosis was a “mixed blessing.” He thought it taught him just how necessary willpower is and, more than that, why it’s so vital to advocate for yourself and for your health. Montel’s message to others going through MS is not to let the disease define them and to communicate with your doctor frequently about the progression.

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5. Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian, a reality TV star, was 25 when she had her first psoriasis flare-up. She had a common cold, and since psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, it was then triggered. Kim K. experienced it all over her stomach and legs but managed to treat it with a cortisone shot, and it didn’t come back for another five years. It then came back when she was in her 30s, but she wasn’t sure if it was the same condition causing it. Kim K. has been dealing with it for eight years and, at first, was very self-conscious about it, but now it’s just part of who she is. She has used every cream and ointment to deal with this.

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4. Lena Dunham

Lena Dunham, star and writer of Girls, is another female celebrity who has undergone an intense battle against endometriosis. She underwent numerous surgeries to try and help her with the chronic pain she was dealing with. Dunham says that these surgeries are measured in the double digits. She eventually decided to have a total hysterectomy to free her from the pain. As someone who grew up envisioning themselves as a mother, this was a huge decision but one that would help relieve her of the pain. The decision was made only when the pain became unbearable.

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3. Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks has admitted that being an idiot caused him to develop type 2 diabetes. He says he belonged to the lazy American generation that gained weight and didn’t care about it. However, it has become his priority to get back in shape. According to Tom Hanks’ doctor, he could potentially cure himself of type 2 diabetes by losing weight. The doctor explained to Tom that he should no longer have type 2 diabetes when he hits a target weight. It is possible to ‘cure’ yourself of this type of diabetes, which is why promoting a healthy lifestyle is so important.

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2. Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen is an actor who has been living with an HIV diagnosis for many years. The day he was diagnosed felt like a death sentence, but thank goodness his mother was there with him when he got the news. Once that had passed through his mind, Charlie Sheen was then handed a bunch of pills by the doctors and told to go home; the actor would live. Charlie Sheen was eternally thankful from that point onward because he said if it had been another diagnosis, such as brain cancer, he might not be here right now.

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1. Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez, Disney Child Star turned pop sensation, has undergone a kidney transplant, graciously donated to her by her friend Francia Raisa. This was all due to her diagnosis of lupus, an autoimmune disease. When Selena Gomez first received her diagnosis, she was told she might one day need a transplant, but she wasn’t taking it in or understanding what they meant. What keeps her going through all her health struggles is that she can help people. Selena kept asking herself, “Why me?” but then would answer her question by being able to help others and raise awareness of these conditions.

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