Tisha Campbell, has revealed that she has been in remission from sarcoidosis for four years. The Martin star, who first opened up about her battle with the disease in 2011, shared the latest update when she appeared on The Mibo Show podcast, per WHAS11.
“I have been in remission for four years now, and they can’t find it at the base of my brain at all,” Campbell said on the podcast.
The Mayo Clinic describes sarcoidosis as “a disease characterized by the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells (granulomas) in any part of your body.” The disease commonly affects the lungs and lymph nodes, but it can also affect the eyes, skin, heart and other organs, the Mayo Clinic adds.
Campbell said she was especially worried during the pandemic because sarcoidosis causes more problems when she’s sick.
“Because I thought, ‘If I get Covid, I’m gonna die,'” Campbell said. “Every cold took me to the hospital, just every sniffle or allergies. It would build up, and I would get sick.”
The root cause of sarcoidosis is not known, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, researchers say the symptoms may result “from the body’s immune system responding to an unknown substance.”
Experts haven’t yet found a cure for sarcoidosis. However, the disease can sometimes go away on its own, the Mayo Clinic states.
Speaking to People in 2011, Campbell addressed rumors about her battle with the disease.
“Thank you, everyone, for your concern… However, no worry is needed,” Campbell said in a statement to People at that time. “Through early diagnosis I’m happy to share that I stay healthy with diet and exercise.”
The 50-year-old actress added that she had been living with sarcoidosis for 10 years at that point. In her interview on The Mibo Show podcast, Campbell said she continues to prioritize her overall health.
“I am here to say that I am so proud of where I am in my mental health and my physical health now,” she said. “Because I understood that they are a combination. Whether you have any type of of disorder, it’s important to understand you got to do everything that’s right.”
Campbell played as Gina Waters on the popular ’90s sitcom, Martin. The Hollywood star shares two sons with her ex-husband Duane Martin. The couple divorced in 2018 after spending 21 years together. During her interview on The Mibo Show, Campbell jokingly added that she hasn’t been sick since getting a divorce.