Maeve Bidonde, Staff Writer
Actress and comedian Amy Schumer has come forward about her diagnosis of Exogenous Cushing’s Syndrome. The 42-year-old said it was through recent comments about her face and appearance that led her to discover her diagnosis. Schumer also revealed that her condition was brought on by high dose injections of steroids to treat endometriosis, a condition that affects the uterus. Exogenous Cushing’s Syndrome is caused by an external factor such as steroid injections for conditions like Asthma or psoriasis. If used too frequently the body produces too much the stress hormones otherwise known as cortisol.
The effects of this condition can cause weight gain, sudden face changes, increased fat around the neck, a hump on your back between your shoulders, and skin changes. As far as treatment goes, Cushing’s Syndrome is treated based on whether it is Endogenous (inside the body) or Exogenous (outside the body). Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or cortisol reducing medications. Even animals like dogs can have this hormone disorder. Former Youtuber Jenna Marbles’ Italian Greyhound has Cushing Syndrome too.
According to The New York Times, Schumer said her condition doesn’t pose any serious health risks at this time on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. She said that she has the type of condition that will just work itself out. The comments that led to this discovery were both concern and negativity towards her. Reasons as to why so many are negative vary in each comment posted.
Since then Schumer has returned to work filming a new Netflix Film called Kinda Pregnant, produced by the legendary Adam Sandler. Treating the diagnosis was a long hard road. She spent four hours at a time in MRI machines for several sessions and providing blood work. It’s likely she had a hormone stimulation test to trigger a release of the hormone and then take her blood to count hormones.
Writing from experience, that test isn’t particularly enjoyable considering the fasting and having to wait until the test is over to eat, leaving you feeling dizzy afterwards. Amy Schumer’s perseverance throughout the tests and diagnosis is admirable and will grow from this experience.
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