Bernie Mac battling sarcoidosis since '83

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on February 11th, 2005

It killed Reggie White, but Bill Russel’s got it. It kills five per cent of those who have it, but it’s treatable.

“I’ve had sarcoidosis since 1983, and it has not altered or limited my lifestyle,” Mac says. “No one knows where sarcoidosis comes from or where it starts, and there’s no known cause for this condition that effects primarily minorities.”

It primarily attacks the immune system and the lungs. It’s not a good thing to have, but it’s not the worst thing one can have; click here for hard info on the disease. Mac plans to make curing the disease his cause, setting up a foundation and charitable events.