9 Stars Who Suffer From Severe Illnesses

Published on October 31, 2014. Updated April 3, 2017

When it comes to sickness, celebrities aren’t exempt. Just like everyone else, they get chronic or life threatening illnesses. This usually means they need medication – sometimes for life – and they need to change their lifestyle. Being diagnosed with a severe illness gives many celebrities an opportunity to set a good example for their fans and raise awareness. Rather than succumb to self-pity, they can take control of their health and do everything that they can to get healthy. We have 9 celebrities on this list who have had the misfortune of being diagnosed with a severe illness. Many of them have managed their conditions effectively and have a set a great example for the rest of us!

9. Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott has had to take a lot of time outside of the spotlight after being diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. However, after undergoing radiation treatment combined with medication, she has been feeling better. These days, she uses diet and exercise to manage the illness.

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8. Dick Donato

Big Brother star Dick Donato has been living with HIV since 2011; however, he only recently went public with his diagnosis. Although he isn’t entirely sure how he contracted it, he believes that it was through unprotected sex with a woman. Donato takes medication to manage the virus and hopes that, by sharing his experience, other people can learn from his mistakes.

7. Halle Berry

Halle Berry was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, a chronic condition that affects the body’s ability to metabolize sugar, when she was only 22 years old. Thanks to a healthy diet and regular exercise, however, she has been able to manage it effectively.

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6. Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over 20 years ago and went public with his diagnosis in 1998. He has become a strong advocate for the disease and has established The Michael J. Fox Foundation to help find a cure for Parkinson’s.

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5. Lil Wayne

In 2013, Lil Wayne revealed that he has been suffering from Epilepsy after he nearly died after having multiple seizures in a row. According to him, this happened because of stress, lack of sleep and being overworked.

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4. Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin told the New York Times that he has Lyme disease, a serious illness caused by the bite of certain types of ticks. His symptoms return annually and, when they do, he finds himself really tired.

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3. Toni Braxton

Toni Bratxon has been struggling with her health for several years now. She was diagnosed with the potentially life threatening autoimmune disease Lupus a few years ago and with pericarditis, an inflammation of the heart lining that has left her prone to high blood pressure and heart palpitations. Both diagnoses have sidelined her once promising career, so she has focused on reality TV instead.

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2. Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks revealed that he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes on “Late Show with David Letterman.” As a result of his diagnosis, he can’t take on roles that require him to manipulate his weight like he did earlier in his career.

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1. Nick Cannon

In 2012, Nick Cannon found out that he has lupus nephritis, an autoimmune condition that affects the kidneys. His diagnoses came after he was hospitalized for mild kidney failure and then again when doctors found blood clots in his lungs and an enlarged ventricle in his heart. Cannon has since changed his lifestyle. These days, he makes sure to get at least six hours of sleep a night and eats well.

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