Nick Cannon's Fight Against Lupus

Summer Issue of Lupus Now® Magazine highlights his journey as an entertainer and public figure living with lupus

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a multitalented entertainer and successful television personality and entrepreneur, Nick Cannon has a lot on his plate. The 32-year-old husband and father of two, who battles with lupus nephritis (kidney disease), took on another role: lupus awareness advocate. Cannon has used his voice and platform to raise awareness of lupus, an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body and affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans.

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The summer issue of Lupus Now® magazine, published by the Lupus Foundation of America, highlights how Cannon balances his thriving careers as an entertainer and entrepreneur while living with lupus. Cannon talks openly about his diagnosis in 2012 and the toll the disease took on his work life along with the difficult decisions he made about his fast-paced lifestyle. Cannon discusses the importance for people with lupus to educate themselves and find a community of support that will help build self-esteem and confidence.

"A lot of people told me that I shouldn't share and I should keep [my lupus diagnosis] private—that it could affect my work and all that," Cannon says. "But I feel like this happened to me so I can be an inspiration, and I can talk about it."

Additionally, Cannon explains the importance of having close family and friends surrounding him, especially his mother and wife, Mariah. "Mariah was right there with me through the whole process and kept me on the right path, so I'm forever indebted to her for that," says Cannon.

To read the complete article, or to order a subscription to Lupus Now® magazine, go online to lupusnow.org, contact your local LFA chapter, or call 866-4-THE-LFA. Published three times per year for people with lupus, their families, and health professionals, Lupus Now® includes the latest information on new treatments, clinical trial updates, lifestyle and wellness features, personal stories, and more.

About Lupus
Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, hits out of nowhere and has no known cause and no known cure. Its health effects can range from a skin rash to a heart attack. Lupus is debilitating and destructive, and can be fatal, yet research on lupus remains underfunded relative to its scope and devastation.

About the Lupus Foundation of America
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world's cruelest, most unpredictable, and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, we lead the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus.

SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America