In 2013, Selena Gomez was 21 and her career was soaring. But when she suddenly pulled the pin on her Asian and Australian tour commitments and vanished from the public eye, it was quickly – and wrongly – assumed that, like so many young stars before her, she was in rehab to treat addiction issues.
Now 23, Selena has bravely spoken out about the real reason she was forced to withdraw from her trip to Australia – she was undergoing chemotherapy.
Selena bravely reveals her secret health battle.
The American star tells Billboard magazine that she was diagnosed with auto-immune disease Lupus, which can be life-threatening. Among its symptoms are extreme fatigue, chest pain, hair loss and inflammation of joints.
“That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke,” she says.
At the time, Selena recalls spending her gruelling treatments reading allegations she was in rehab.
“I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy. You’re a**holes!’” she says. “I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again.”
Currently the disease can be treated by drugs, and by chemotherapy designed to suppress the action of the immune system.
As for her infamous rollercoaster relationship with pop bad boy Justin Bieber, Selena explains that they’re on “good terms” but not currently talking.
Selena says she and ex-boyfriend Justin, pictured here in 2012, are “on good terms”.
And it’s her friendship with fellow singer Taylor Swift that’s pulled her through a couple of horror years.
“Taylor makes me feel empowered,” Selena says. “The way she cares about women is so adamant. She pulls me out of my shell.”
For more information on Lupus, visit lupus-sle.org
