Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has a rare blistering skin disease, and the treatment for it is responsible for dramatic changes recently noted in his appearance, his office said Thursday.
The 63-year-old is usually reluctant to speak about his health but disclosed his condition to assure Canadians that neither his disorder, bullous pemphigoid, nor the strong steroid medication he is taking undermines his ability to do his job.
“A few people have said to me, ‘Do you have cancer?… What’s going on? Are you going to die?’ That kind of thing,” Flaherty told the daily Globe and Mail.
“And, obviously, I am not. I mean, I will die eventually but not over a dermatological issue.”
Flaherty developed the rare autoimmune disease, which can cause lesions on parts of the body, in early 2012 but it took months for doctors to correctly diagnose it and start the proper treatment.
Since then the minister has suffered some of the common side effects of the prednisone treatment, including facial swelling and bloating, weight gain, redness in the face and bouts of sleeplessness.
Flaherty’s office added: “The condition is clearing up and he is hopeful his appearance will return to normal in the near future.” In the meantime, the minister continues carrying out his day-to-day responsibilities.
Canada finance minister says has rare skin disease
