Selena Gomez’s Fight with Lupus Is a Wake-Up Call for Latinx Health
Selena Gomez has always been candid about her health journey, and when she opened up about her lupus diagnosis in 2015, it resonated deeply with many Latinos. After almost a decade of living with the illness, her story brought a much-needed spotlight to lupus and how it affects our community.
The Rare Beauty founder was diagnosed with lupus in 2013, but she kept the news private for some time. This was partly due to persistent tabloid rumors about drug use, which she later addressed directly in several interviews.
“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,” Gomez told Billboard in 2015. “I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy…’I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again.”
Despite the difficult experience, her bravery in sharing her story has helped to empower others and create a sense of shared understanding. Her openness has shown many people in the Latino community that they are not alone.
So, what is lupus, and why is this conversation so important for us? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease. This means your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue and organs, instead of protecting the body. Consequently, people with lupus experience inflammation and pain in almost any part of their body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, and heart.
The most common form is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or SLE. This is the type of lupus that Gomez has, and the one most people refer to when they talk about the disease. However, there are three other kinds:
- Cutaneous lupus: affects only the skin.
- Drug-induced lupus: a lupus-like disease caused by specific prescription drugs.
- Neonatal lupus: a rare condition that affects newborns of women who carry certain autoantibodies. It can cause temporary skin, liver, or blood issues in the baby, and in rare cases, heart problems.
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, anyone can develop lupus. However, certain groups are at higher risk, including women between the ages of 15 and 44, individuals with other autoimmune disorders, and people of Latino, Black, Asian, or Native American descent. A family history of lupus also increases the likelihood of developing the disease. Notably, 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with lupus are women.
Lupus Symptoms to Look Out For
While there are no specific initial signs of lupus, there are certain things to look out for. The Lupus Foundation of America lists the most common lupus symptoms across the board are extreme fatigue, pain or swelling in the joints, swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes, headaches, low fever, sensitivity to sunlight or fluorescent lighting, and chest pain when breathing deeply.
Other symptoms may include a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose, hair loss, mouth sores, and whitening or blue coloring in the fingers and toes when the person is stressed or cold.
During an interview with TODAY in 2017, Gomez listed several of these symptoms, which she initially ignored.
”I would get fevers, headaches. I would get fatigue. But I always just kept going,” she said. “I kind of ignored it, to be honest… I don’t think I made the right decisions because I didn’t accept it. And that’s extremely selfish, and at the same time, really just unnecessary. I’m not really proud of that.”
The Importance of Diagnosing Lupus
If you’re worried about having lupus, seeking medical assessment is the best way forward. Although no single test can diagnose lupus, a combination of blood and urine tests can help reach a conclusive diagnosis. If left untreated, lupus can have serious consequences.
In the Emilia Perez’s actress case, lupus complications led her to need a kidney transplant in 2017. In a series of Instagram posts, Gomez detailed her journey and getting the kidney she needed from Francia Raisa. “I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus, and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health,” she wrote. “I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you.”
The Lupus Research Alliance notes the most useful testing involves identifying autoantibodies present in the blood of lupus patients, a biopsy of the skin or kidneys, and a full medical history analysis of the patient. No te preocupes, there are many different treatment options available.
Treatment Options
The good news is that there are several treatment options for people with lupus. Doctors can prescribe medication like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce inflammation and manage chest and joint pain while keeping fever regulated.
Antimalarials, originally used as treatment for malaria, can help lupus patients keep their immune systems regulated while protecting the organs and central nervous system.
Corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and targeted immunomodulatory medication to keep the immune system high are also often used to treat the disease. En pocas palabras, keep inflammation low and immune system functioning high.
