Halsey is revealing the full scope of her recent health issues. After announcing their new album on June 4 on Instagram, the pop star again took to social media to reveal that she’d been diagnosed with lupus and “a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.”
Both conditions “are currently being managed or in remission,” wrote Halsey, 29, but “I will likely have [both] for the duration of my life.” They also shared that both diagnoses came in 2022.
Halsey first hinted that they were experiencing new health issues in a post on June 4. Alongside videos of the singer talking about her health and getting treatment in the hospital, the caption read simply: “long story short, i’m Lucky to be alive. short story long, i wrote an album. it begins with The End,” she continued, teasing the first single off the new album. The singer then linked to accounts for the Lupus Research Alliance and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, leading to speculation that they’d been diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disorder, and leukemia or lymphoma, both types of blood cancer.
In their latest post, the singer sought to clear things up. “I realize everyone is catching up with news I’ve held in for a very long time, and I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to share,” she wrote, explaining that she decided to “share a bit more” after the “kind” support she’d received. Halsey went on to say that after a “rocky start” with both conditions, “I slowly got everything under control with the help of amazing doctors.”
According to Mayo Clinic, lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. This causes inflammation, which can “many different body systems,” from your joints and skin to your brain, heart, and lungs. With a wide variety of symptoms, lupus can be tough to diagnose and is likely caused by a combination of genetics and environment. In many cases, lupus “flares” are caused by specific triggers, which can include sunlight, infections, or certain medications.
Celebrities like Selena Gomez and Nick Cannon have come forward with their lupus diagnoses over the past few years, bringing new awareness to the condition. Gomez in particular has been open about her struggles with lupus, which resulted in her receiving a kidney transplant in 2017. She’s also shared that the medication she takes to manage her symptoms causes her weight to fluctuate, leading to vicious body-shaming and bullying online.
Halsey was also diagnosed with a type of lymphoproliferative disorder. According to Healthline, this group of diseases is “characterized by the uncontrolled production of white blood cells called lymphocytes.” Leukemia and lymphoma both fall under this group, which also contains noncancerous disorders.
Halsey, who has also been open about having endometriosis and bipolar disorder, told fans that she’s now “feeling better and I’m more grateful than ever to have music to turn to.” Two years after the lupus and blood disorder diagnoses, they continued, “I can’t wait to get back where I belong: With you all 🤍 Singing and screaming my heart out.”
Before you go, read about other celebs who’ve come forward with their diagnoses to end stigma: