Halsey's Rare Organ Disease Explained
Singer Halsey is opening up about her battle with lupus SLE and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder after hinting about her illness in her newest song, "The End."
In an Instagram post, she said the diagnosis came in 2022 and thanked her doctors for helping her get both conditions under control. She said she will have to live with both conditions for the rest of her life, even though she's currently in remission or closely monitoring her health.
"After 2 years, I'm feeling better and I'm more grateful than ever to have music to turn to," she said. "I can't wait to get back where I belong: With you all (heart emoji) Singing and screaming my heart out."
On June 4, Halsey released the first song, "The End," from her new album. The song describes her going to the doctor and receiving treatment: "And there's poison in my brain and in my blood."
In a previous post on Instagram, she was seen massaging her legs, saying she felt like an "old lady." She promised herself how she was going to battle through the illness and have a strong start to her 30s. Halsey will be 30 in September. She also showed clips of her treatments as well as tears. "I'm lucky to be alive," she said.
T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders are characterized by too many white blood cells
Your immune system has a host of white blood cells that battle disease and infection. One type of white blood cell is a lymphocyte, and you have two kinds of lymphocytes. Antibodies produced by B cells knock down foreign substances that can make you sick, and T cells destroy your own cells that have been compromised by a virus or cancer.
A T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder occurs when your body has too many of these T cells. The National Cancer Institute says treating these disorders is similar to cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. In Halsey's montage of her treatments, you can see her in the hospital receiving medicine through an IV.
Some types of T-cell disorders include certain kinds of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or leukemia. People with compromised immune systems are at a greater risk for a T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. According to the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center, people with lupus have a high risk of developing lymphoma and other cancers.
Lupus SLE is the most common form of lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease where the immune system believes healthy cells are foreign and begins to attack them. SLE is the most common form of lupus and can cause inflammation in the organs. This inflammation can cause joint pain and swelling in the limbs, and people with lupus might also experience symptoms such as heavy fatigue and a low-grade fever.
About half of people with SLE develop a butterfly-shaped skin rash, and others might experience weight loss or hair loss. Although Halsey's latest post shows her wearing a blonde wig, her previous post shows one clip with her head shaved while playing guitar. She is also wearing scarves or hats over her head during treatments.
People with SLE receive treatment to control their symptoms because there is no cure for this condition. Treatments for mild cases of SLE often include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroid treatments. People with severe cases of SLE might need blood thinners or medicines that suppress their immune system.