Overview
Tina Turner is a legendary singer who has had a successful career spanning decades. In 2013, Turner revealed that she had been diagnosed with intestinal cancer.
Turner has since undergone surgery and radiation treatments and is now cancer-free. Here, we will provide an overview of Turner’s illness, diagnosis, and treatment:
- Illness: Intestinal cancer
- Diagnosis: Confirmed in 2013
- Treatment: Surgery and radiation
Background of Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an iconic singer and songwriter whose career has spanned more than five decades. She is best known for her Grammy award-winning songs “What’s Love Got To Do with It”, “Proud Mary”, and “River Deep – Mountain High”. In 2008, Turner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside other legendary artists such as U2, Beastie Boys and Van Halen.
Turner has been widely acclaimed for her unique style of singing and performance that combines soulful gospel, blues and R&B music with a high octane rock ‘n’ roll energy. She has sold more than 200 million records worldwide making her one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. In addition to music, she is also an actress who has starred in films such as Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome alongside Mel Gibson.
Born Anna Mae Bullock in 1939 in Nutbush (Tennessee), Tina had a difficult upbringing that included being abandoned by her father when she was just 3 years old and suffering physical abuse at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend. At 16 years old she made national headlines for running away with then-boyfriend Ike Turner to St Louis where he was performing his band’s music nightly. From there the two married only 4 months later in Tijuana (Mexico) despite Turner already being married to another woman at the time. Tina eventually divorced Ike after 15 years due to his substance abuse problem as well as physical and verbal abuse throughout their marriage which subsequently led to her highly successful solo career after 1976.
Tina was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2018 though successfully underwent surgeries later that year following chemotherapy treatments leading to remission from the disease by 2019 after further follow-ups tests revealed no evidence of any active cancer cells remaining in her system.
Diagnosis
Tina Turner was recently diagnosed with an illness and has been facing some serious health challenges. She has been receiving a lot of medical attention and is currently undergoing medical treatments in order to manage her condition.
In this article, we will discuss the diagnosis of her illness and what treatments she has received:
Tina Turner’s diagnosis of kidney failure
Tina Turner is a world-renowned singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. She has overcome major adversity to become one of the most successful women in music of all time. In April 2020, the 81-year-old revealed on social media that she has been living with kidney failure for the past nine years due to her struggle with lupus and is undergoing dialysis three times a week.
In 2017, Turner achieved global celebrity status after her extraordinary career was immortalized in the Broadway musical, which went on to win five Tony Awards that year. It is known that lupus can cause kidney inflammation and damage leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Without proper treatment or intervention, CKD can lead to end-stage renal failure resulting in a need for dialysis or transplantation.
In some cases of advanced CKD, it may progress quickly leading to irreversible damage to the kidneys requiring dialysis or transplantation within days or weeks. Since dialysis can be very demanding physically and emotionally it’s important for patients like Tina Turner who opts for this treatment to have additional support from family members and healthcare teams throughout their care plan journey.
Dialysis helps replace some vital functions of healthy kidneys like cleaning waste from the blood and allowing better control of electrolyte levels but it does not cure kidney failure. Fortunately there are viable treatments available for patients affected by this condition such as lifestyle changes including following prescribed diets as well as medications like ACE inhibitors which help protect kidneys from further damage by lowering blood pressure levels.
Despite her health challenges at an age when most people typically retire, Tina Turner continues inspiring other individuals living with lupus around the world with her resilience and courage by overcoming all odds both professionally and medically inspiring many others through her story of hope.
Treatment of kidney failure
The treatment for kidney failure often depends on the underlying cause of the disease. If it is caused by a medical condition or a medication side effect, that cause must first be addressed. Treatment may also involve lifestyle changes, such as a change in diet and physical activity levels, which may include avoiding certain drugs. In some cases, dialysis or a kidney transplant may be necessary to replace lost renal function.
In order to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and prevent complications like anemia and nerve damage, it is important to closely monitor levels of creatinine and other substances in the blood and urine as well as electrolyte balance. Depending on personal history and comprehensive lab results, medications may be prescribed for this purpose. These medications can target high blood pressure (a leading cause of kidney disease) or diabetes, which can also put someone at an increased risk for the condition.
A special type of dialysis known as peritoneal dialysis may also be recommended if there has been significant damage to your kidneys or difficulty maintaining normal functioning; this method typically involves using a long tube inserted through the abdomen that removes materials from your body daily to cleanse your system without taking you off dialysis during weekdays so that you can go about your normal daily activities without interruption.
Symptoms
Tina Turner suffers from intestinal issues, which are caused by an autoimmune condition. Symptoms of her condition include fatigue, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and weight loss. Other symptoms include paleness, fever, joint pains, and loss of appetite.
Tina’s condition is managed by her nutrition, lifestyle, and medications. In this article, we’ll talk about the symptoms of her condition and the ways it can be managed:
Common symptoms of kidney failure
Kidney failure is a medical condition in which the kidneys are unable to adequately filter waste and fluid from the body. When this occurs, toxins and waste products can build up in the bloodstream, resulting in unpleasant and potentially serious health complications.
Common symptoms of kidney failure include:
- Malaise (a general feeling of fatigue or illness)
- Swelling of the ankles, feet, or face
- Nausea
- Decreased appetite
- Weakness
- Dark urine and difficulty urinating
If any of these symptoms persist for more than a few days or appear suddenly without any warning signs, it’s important to consult a doctor right away. Early detection and treatment can dramatically improve quality of life for those affected by this serious medical condition.
Treatment of symptoms
The goal of treatment for Tina Turner’s illness is to manage the symptoms and prevent complications. Treatment plans should include lifestyle changes, pharmacologic therapy, and in certain cases, surgery.
Lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of managing this condition. The lifestyle changes suggested include reducing stress levels, getting adequate rest, avoiding long bouts of standing or sitting in one place, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet composed of fruits and vegetables. All these measures will help reduce the intensity of abdominal pain associated with Tina Turner’s illness.
Pharmacologic therapy involves a variety of medications that are used to treat specific symptoms.
- Pain medications may be prescribed to relieve abdominal cramping and discomfort;
- anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed to reduce inflammation;
- antidiarrheal drugs may be used if Tina Turner is experiencing severe diarrhoea;
- hormonal agents such as oral contraceptives can be utilized for painful periods in women with the condition;
- supplements such as iron may be recommended for those suffering from iron deficiency anemia due to excessive bleeding from fissures or ulcers located at the anus area caused by this disorder.
In rare cases when causing significant physical disability or resistance to other treatments, surgery may also be considered as a last resort treatment option for Tina Turner’s illness only after all non-surgical methods have been duly considered and discussed between her doctor and her family members or legal representative (someone appointed by her). Surgery entails correcting any anatomical abnormalities associated with this condition such as rectal prolapse or internal anal sphincter myotomy that assists in relaxing the sphincter muscles around anus which then reduces pain associated with bowel movements that sometimes worsens the symptoms related to Turnbull Syndrome or Grave’s Disease associated with Tina’s Turner’s disorder.
Impact on Life
Tina Turner is an iconic artist who has wowed audiences with her powerful performances, her impressive vocals and her inspiring personal journey. In 2018, Tina Turner announced that she was suffering from kidney disease, and she experienced several other health complications due to her condition.
In this article, we will look at the impact that Tina Turner’s disease has had on her life.
Impact of kidney failure on Tina Turner’s life
In 2017, legendary musician Tina Turner discovered that she was suffering from kidney failure, and her friend, director and actor Robyn Crawford, gave Turner one of her own kidneys to aid in the recovery process. The experience has had a profound impact on Turner’s life and her outlook on death.
Having a chronic health condition such as kidney failure can have a number of effects on lifestyle. People with kidney failure need to follow a very strict diet with low protein intake as well as be sure to get plenty of rest. Some people also go through dialysis or transplantation in order to receive the medical treatment they need. Naturally all this imposes a certain degree of strain on daily activities, and is thus likely to affect mood, energy levels and quality of life significantly.
On an emotional level, Turner’s experience may also have changed her attitude towards death. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year Tina said “Now I can say I’m ready” in regards to death due to having gone through a physical trial by fire thanks to her current kidney condition. And it certainly seems that rather than being intimidated by the prospect of death Tina has instead welcomed it’s approach in her life as part of the natural flow of things – likely in large part thanks to having overcome kidney failure due to Robyn’s help back in 2017.
How Tina Turner coped with her diagnosis
In April 2018, Tina Turner revealed that she had been diagnosed with kidney failure in 2017. In an interview with the U.K.’s Sunday Times Magazine, Turner discussed what it was like to cope with her diagnosis.
Turner said that facing her kidney failure was “like a documentary—it was like watching someone else”. She explained that prior to her diagnosis, she and her partners Erwin Bach and Igor Levai were planning on taking a two-month trip around the world. Her diagnosis made such an endeavor suddenly impossible and necessitated major changes in how she spent her time, energy and money.
Still, Turner had what she called an “enlightened acceptance” of the diagnosis—she recalled accepting that “that’s how it is” after hearing her doctor’s prognosis and being forced to give up on the planned trip around the world. Rather than dwelling on what could have been, Turner sought out some of life’s simpler pleasures even though she was under medical care for kidney dialysis three days a week for five hours at a time. Between dialysis sessions, Tina would focus on activities such as yoga and reading books – things which allowed her to live life in tune with herself instead of worrying about all the things she would no longer be able to do due to her diagnosis.
Conclusion
Tina Turner is an incredible woman who has faced several medical challenges throughout her life. She was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2018 and has gone through multiple treatments, including surgery and chemotherapy, as well as undergoing a kidney transplant. Despite her illness, Tina Turner is still a shining example of strength and resilience.
This article was an overview of her medical condition and the treatments she’s undergone to beat it.
Summary of Tina Turner’s diagnosis and treatment
Tina Turner, the award-winning singer and entertainer, was diagnosed in 2013 with a painful disorder known as iktiosis arkrecta. This is an autoimmune skin disorder that results in abnormal thickening of the skin’s epidermal layer. The main symptom of ichthyosis is dry and flaky skin, which can cause severe itching and discomfort.
In order to manage her condition, Tina receives regular treatment from dermatologists who use medication such as topical steroids and retinoids to control symptoms. Occasionally she also receives phototherapy which helps improve the appearance of her skin by decreasing inflammation, relieving itching, and reducing dryness.
In addition to her medical treatments for ichthyosis, Tina also practices healthy lifestyle habits that help manage her condition. This includes:
- Avoiding highly scented skincare products
- Drinking plenty of water each day to keep her skin hydrated from the inside out
- Wearing breathable fabrics such as cotton that don’t irritate skin
- Getting enough sleep each night
- Eating nutritious meals that contain essential nutrients for healthy skin such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A sources like fish and leafy greens
- Using natural oils on her skin instead of creams or lotions
- Avoiding overly harsh soaps
- Exposing herself to sunshine during early morning hours when it is not too strong
- Keeping away from highly chlorinated pools or bodies of water since chemicals can aggravate her condition
- Finishing off a shower or a bath with cool water instead of hot water
- Avoiding stress as much possible since it causes flare-ups.
