Take a moment and think about it. Was it because someone you knew had it? You were diagnosed with it? Or were you wondering and ran to Google to see what you could find out?
I first heard about lupus on an episode of TV show House, which is centered around the egomaniacal diagnostician, Dr. House, and his team of doctors. I don’t remember which episode it was, but recall that lupus was shown as a diagnosis with steroids as the usual treatment. That was the extent of what I knew about lupus—and how little I cared to find out..
By then, I didn't have any family background of lupus. I never identified with anyone who looked like me suffering from the disease, and I believed it had to be hereditary—something my family members did not have. Oh boy, was I wrong.
It wasn't until after being diagnosed that I actually had representation: Queen Sugar's Aunty Vi. She mirrored my experience—initially unwilling but ultimately accepting her diagnosis, taking it seriously, and succeeding despite lupus.
My Journey with Lupus
Before my diagnosis, I didn’t know anyone with lupus. However, I became very familiar with it after being diagnosed in 2016 with SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), followed by lupus nephritis later that same year. Lupus nephritis, a form of lupus that attacks the kidneys, completely changed my understanding of the disease.
As a woman of color, you’d think I would have heard more about lupus—especially since it unfairly affects Black people, Asians, and Native Americans. Yet, in the Black community, we mostly hear about diabetes or high blood pressure. This is surprising, considering lupus hits our community just as hard.
Facts I Found Surprising
✅It Predominantly Affects Women. If you have lupus, family planning becomes a key conversation with your doctor.
✅Lupus unfairly affects people of color three times more. You wouldn't know from the overwhelming images were of white women and men.
✅Symptoms vary widely. It Is called "the great imitator" because it mimics other conditions, making it notoriously difficult to diagnose.
✅It can affect multiple organs. The damage can be gradual or sudden, making it a condition that requires constant monitoring.
💜 Did You Know?
May Is Lupus Awareness Month
This is a bonus fact: May is Lupus Awareness Month. It’s the perfect time to get educated about lupus and spread awareness of illnesses affecting the POC community.
In the U.S., lupus disproportionately impacts communities of color, but statistics are difficult to track. Many in our community brush off ailments, avoid going to the doctor due to mistrust of the medical system, or simply lack access to insurance. Globally, the numbers are even higher.
Let’s take a moment to reflect. What do you actually know about lupus? What are some of your misconceptions? Compare what you know now to these surprising facts.
Be Proactive: Diagnosis Starts with a Blood Test
Don’t wait for symptoms to take over. Be proactive about your health. During your next check-up, ask your doctor for an ANA (antinuclear antibody) blood test. It’s a simple step to detect autoimmune markers, helping to identify lupus before flare-ups take a toll.
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