Bernie Mac and Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is known for its deep swirls of inflammation called granulomas. This rare disease is probably due to a disruption of the immune system, either by a virus or toxin, and it certainly runs in families. Black people are affected at least three times more often than whites, (35 cases per 100,000 compared to 10 cases per hundred thousand), and this health disparity is most disturbing in terms of outcome, with 13 times more deaths in blacks.
This is because sarcoidosis, which can involve the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, and brain, tends to affect black people at a younger age (comedian Bernie Mac got the disease in the 1980s), and is far more likely to be chronic or recurrent in blacks, as it was with the famous comedian. Despite Mac’s publicist’s assertion that his sarcoidosis was in remission and hadn’t sickened him since 2005, and despite his statement that it wasn’t a factor in his deadly pneumonia, I find this difficult to believe.
My take is that Bernie Mac most likely fell in the group of 20 to 30 percent of sarcoid patients who end up with severely scarred lungs with little reserve lung capacity left. I think Mac’s more than two decades battling the disease (the mainstay of treatment is the steroid prednisone) speaks to the probability that his lungs were no longer in shape to fight off bacteria.
Pneumonia doesn’t usually kill a 50 year old unless the patient has badly damaged lungs to begin with. In that case, an infection can quickly rifle through the scar tissue and fill what’s left of the lungs with pus and fluid. The lungs die, and the patient does too.
I suspect Mac would have wanted his death to serve as a wake-up call for early diagnosis and treatment of chronic lung diseases. Most sarcoidosis can be suspected by the findings on a simple chest x-ray, and though the majority of cases go away without treatment, it still makes sense to be vigilant.
I remember when a physician, Dr. C., came to see me for a routine physical, and the swellings in the center of his chest x-ray made me immediately suspicious of sarcoidosis. When I uttered my concern, he became so anxious that he fainted and fell off his chair. Luckily, he wasn’t hurt in the fall, and though he did turn out to have the disease, he was also in the majority group (which unfortunately Mac was not) where it remitted spontaneously.
Dr. C’s case, like Mac’s, was a reminder to me that sarcoidosis is a puzzling, unpredictable, scary disease that needs to be approached rationally rather than emotionally.
Marc Siegel MD is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a Fox News Medical Contributor and writes a health column for LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is the author of False Alarm: the Truth About the Epidemic of Fear (Wiley 2005) and Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic (Wiley 2006). Read more at www.doctorsiegel.com
Tags: Bernie Mac, blacks, granulomas, immune system, lungs, pneumonia, Sarcoid, Sarcoidosis
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RIP BERNIE MAC… YOU WILL BE MISSED
God gave us three-score and ten. In my opinion, Bernie Mac’s death was needless at his age. Had Health and Wellness been introduced as an option, to include a total body cleanse to rid the body of excessive waste and toxins, and encouraged to consume a diet of plant based foods, and bombard his cellular level with viable nutrients, i.e. multi-vitamins, enzymes, minerals, oxygenation, etc. A regimen of this magnitude would have assisted to STRENGTHEN his immune system, and given his body an opportunity to do what GOD INTENDED…..”TO HEAL ITSELF”!!
I share my story…..bcuzicare!!
I am a white male who contracted sarcoidosis at the age of 42. My primary lesion site was my spinal cord, in the cervical area. This put me in a small minority of sarcoid victims for many reasons. I have had subsequent sarcoid growths just below the skin in several areas. Luckily my eyes and lungs have been spared. Though my sarcoid now is in remission, I am left partially disabled, and have the chronic pain symptoms of transverse myelitis. Karen Duffy has been a prominent spokesperson for this disease (she also suffered from neurosarcoid.) We all will miss Bernie Mac. I feel like Ms. Duffy has said, anyone with this disease is my “brother or sister in sarcoid”.
I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis when I was 45, though in retrospect, it probably started in my 20’s, went into remission, then came back with a vengence in my 40’s. I have now been in remission since 2006 after 9 months of Prednisone, which caused it’s own problems. Two weeks ago I went to my regular family doctor, because unfortunately, I had contracted an infection in my lungs, which is slowly getting better, although it is taking longer than expected. Bernie Mac’s death has just reawakened me to the fact that Sarc is an extremely dangerous and difficult disease, especially in light of my recent lung infection. I had become complacent with Sarc for the last couple of years. All of us who have this death should make sure to take care of ourselves everyday. It is so sad that Bernie Mac had to die from this disease. We will all miss him. My good thoughts to T. Shirah (commented here earlier)….hope you stay well and that your spirits stay high!
My name is Khalil Hodges A young 6th grader. I’ve known Bernie Mac as long as I can remember. When I Heard about his death I just couldn’t belive it. For a second I just stop and just stopped, and thought I should be scrise of my life because showing me That Bernie Mac died at his age made me want to appreciate my life while im still living.! I remember when his show come on my whole family we’d just sit down and watch Bernie make jokes and be a well actor. I also remember and still do say for all good times one more TIME AMERICA FOR GOOD AOLL BERNIE MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO YOU WIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DID SOME ONE ASK ME WHO IM WIT FROM THE SOUL OF BERNIE MAC I SAY KHALIL M. HODGES I’m WITH BERNIE MAC!!!!!! GOD BLESS AND MAY YOUR SOUL BE FREE NOW TO GOD!!
I am a white female who contracted this disease in my mid-late 20’s. I spent 7 years off and on prednisone and gratefully have been in remission for 10 years. People have accused me of being a hypochondriac when I get a cold or a cough. I remember what it felt like to have 40 percent lung capacity and I am scared witless of contracting pneumonia for fear of dying way to young, as Mr. Mac has. My sympathies to his family, friends and fans. I hope that his passing will help educate people about this disease and lead to more research. I will continue to take care of myself and pray that I never have another recurrence. Blessings to all of us who suffer with this disease.
Sarcoidosis is a very deadly disease and is not rare as is commonly believed. I was diagnosed with it in 1996, in my lungs and lymph nodes. It is a pretty horrible disease with severe chest pain, shortness of breath, numerous other symptoms. It also caused inflammation in my eyes and cardiac symptoms as well as neurological symptoms. I was prescribed prednisone, methotrexate, plaquenil and numerous other drugs. I also went the holistic route and did acupunture, homeopathy, etc, etc etc. I felt like I was truly dying and it went on for years.
In 2003 a friend told me about the Marshall Protocol and I went to Los Angeles to meet Dr. Trevor Marshall at a Sarcoidosis conference. He is a brave scientist who also had sarcoidosis for 30 years and has devoted his life to the study and research of this disease. If not for the Marshall Protocol I am sure I would now be dead. My friend with Sarcoidosis has died, her doctors refused to give her the medications for the Marshall Protocol. It is very sad.
If you have Sarcoidosis or know someone with the disease, go to http://www.marshallprotocol.com and google “Th 1 immune disease ” to gather the information on this plan and decide if you are willing to take that opportunity to improve your life and maybe save your life. You will now find doctors willing to help you with this treatment.
God Bless you all with Sarcoidosis and God bless Bernie Mac and his family. RIP
My name is Jeryl Williams I would like to offer my deepest condolences during this diffcult time to Bernie Mac’s family. I was dx in 2/03 with Sarcoidosis at 39yr old. I lost about 40-50 pds, night sweats, fatige, joint pain, dry cough, could breath. I thought that I had a cold. My co-workers thought I had AIDS. The doctors first dx me with lymphoma, which I had chest ex-rays to be the BIG “S”. I have been in remission for 5 years. In 12/07 I got an infection, which my doctor sent me to get a PET Scan done. The Sarcoidosis has now spreaded. I am on prednisone and unhappy. I am praying for all of my Sarcoid family. I always try to stay positive an have FAITH IN GOD. I have lost my job and trying not to stress my self. My lungs is scarred, my spleen is enlarged, I have a lot of swelling all over. Please keep me in everyone’s prayer. I thank GOD that I have support from my family and friend. Since this disease has change my life, I don’t have the so-called friends I used to have. I do know that other than GOD, my family and friend I have my Sacoid family too. Take Care, GOD Bless and keep the Faith of GOD.
Thank you for writting this artical. My mom has been batteling sarcoidosis for a little over 10 years now and when I tell people she was never a smoker and what she has no one believes me. She has been on oxygen for at least 6 years on a regular basis day and night and I help dad take care of her. Thank you again for bringing this to the worlds attention.
Jane
My prayer go out to Bernie Mac’s family. I am an african american american women who was diagnosed with sarcoi 11 years ago. It has been in remission for 9 years. When I heard the news about Bernie Mac i became depressed b/c it brought back memories of when i learned that i had sarcio. It took me over week to shake the sad mood that i was going through. I did not want to see or hear anything about Bernie Mac or sarcoi b/c I am so afraid of it coming back. When i snaped out of depression, I went to the herbal food store to replace all vitamins that i ran out of. I am also making an appointment with my doctor to make sure everything is ok. To all of those with this disease, we got to take care of ourselves and let more people know about sarcio until there is a cure or a reason why people are contracting this disease. God Bless You All.
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After reading your article I am left with the feeling that there is more to this topic than I originally thought….