Carrie Ann Inaba is opening up about the impact Sjögren’s disease has had on her life and her work on Dancing With the Stars, according to E! News.
Inaba told E! News that after being diagnosed in 2013, she was hesitant for years to tell the show about her chronic autoimmune disorder because she worried it could affect her role on the series. She said she had originally been advised not to speak about it.
The longtime judge said she eventually received strong support from the show and its networks. Inaba missed last season’s premiere episode, which she said was the first show she had missed since the series began 20 years ago, and she feared the worst before learning she would be given time to recover.
Inaba said the experience made her more determined to speak openly about Sjögren’s disease. She has partnered with Novartis on the Shout for Sjögren’s campaign to raise awareness, noting that symptoms can be scattered and difficult to diagnose. She said she hopes others dealing with similar symptoms will seek help and know they are not alone.
