Amy Schumer has been diagnosed with Cushing's Syndrome following online trolling about her face.
Schumer found herself enduring a flurry of negative remarks about her physical appearance following her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Have a look at a clip of Schumer's appearance on The Tonight Show:
Despite the intent of her appearance being to promote the new season of her series Life & Beth, attention quickly turned to comments about her facial features, with some online users describing it as "puffier" and "swollen".
Although some of the comments were meant in a hateful manner, it appeared to spark Schumer to seek medical advice, and she has since been diagnosed with Cushing's Syndrome.
Cushing syndrome is a condition characterized by an excess of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, circulating in the body for an extended period. Symptoms may include weight gain, hypertension, and bone density loss, as noted by the Mayo Clinic. Treatment options can range from medication to radiation therapy or surgery.
The 42-year-old shared her diagnosis in the latest edition of Jessica Yellin's News Not Noise newsletter, following inquiries from fans regarding her altered appearance. She expressed relief at finally understanding the cause behind her physical changes, describing the revelation as a rejuvenating experience.
"While I was doing press on camera for my Hulu show, I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up. So finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I'm healthy was the greatest news imaginable," Schumer revealed.
"Having the internet chime in helped me know something was wrong," she added.
Reflecting on the past tumultuous weeks, Schumer acknowledged the challenges she faced, both regarding her health concerns and the scrutiny of her appearance.
"Aside from fears about my health, I also had to be on camera having the internet chime in. But thank God for that. Because that's how I realized something was wrong," she shared.
When questioned about her decision to share such personal medical information, Schumer expressed her desire to advocate for women's health.
"The shaming and criticism of our ever-changing bodies is something I have dealt with and witnessed for a long time," Schumer stated. "I want so much for women to love themselves and be relentless when fighting for their own health in a system that usually doesn't believe them."
She urged for empathy and understanding, highlighting the unpredictability of people's struggles. "Everyone is struggling with something," Schumer noted. "Maybe we can all be a little kinder to each other and ourselves."
It just goes to show that you never know what somebody is going through, and we wish Schumer the very best with her ongoing health journey.