The world knows Corinne Foxx as the eldest daughter of singer, actor, comedian and TV host Jamie Foxx, but she is so much more than that. She has made a name for herself with several acting credits under her belt, including "Safety" and "47 Meters Down: Uncaged". She also executive produced the Netflix comedy "Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!" and co-hosts "Beat Shazam" with her dad. Now she is adding advocate to the list.
Foxx began experiencing painful periods at the age of 13, but it wasn't until 2018 that she would learn the cause was actually endometriosis.
"I started to experience symptoms of endometriosis, probably when I started menstruating, but I wasn’t aware of the even worse symptoms of endometriosis. From the ages of 13-24, my symptoms just kept getting worse," the 29-year-old shares.
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Although the pain often prevented Foxx from being able to go to work and school, she thought it was normal.
"It wasn’t until I was on the bathroom floor in the fetal position that one of my roommates told me, 'You need to see somebody. This isn’t normal. This isn’t how you should be feeling,'" Foxx tells ESSENCE.
From there, she began her diagnosis journey, which required her to see five to six doctors before the word endometriosis was even mentioned.
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"...I had been told I had various ailments, including bladder cancer, something no one ever wants to hear at a doctor’s office. When I did get my endometriosis diagnosis, there was no clear path for me to get treatment. I had to do my research, advocate for myself and demand to keep being seen," Foxx adds.
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The experience was traumatic for Foxx, who first heard the word endometriosis from a male doctor that made inappropriate comments during her doctor's appointment.
"I already didn’t feel very comfortable, and he sort of blurted out the word “endometriosis” without giving me any context as to what that meant. And my only familiarity with it was from Lena Dunham, who has spoken about her endometriosis journey. She had a hysterectomy. So I assumed that endemic endometriosis meant that I couldn’t have children and I just sobbed," Foxx recalls.
With no resources to utilize, Foxx took matters into her own hands and did her own research.
"It wasn’t until later I looked into my family history and realized my grandmother had endometriosis, my aunt had endometriosis, and they all had children and were healthy. I advocate for also doing your research within your family and then having these conversations of, 'Hey, this is something that you might have experienced' because that would have made my diagnosis journey a lot easier," Foxx says.
Fortunately, she was eventually able to find a surgeon who performed her endometriosis surgery. "I got surgery in 2018, as surgery is the gold standard of treatment for endometriosis. I had laparoscopic excision surgery to remove the endometrial tissue from my body, which has immensely changed my life. I no longer live in debilitating pain. And from then on, I’ve just maintained a healthy way of life," Foxx shares.
Although she delayed sharing her diagnosis with her dad due to shame and not being 100% sure she had endometriosis, her father was completely supportive. "He was holding my hand right as I went off to surgery. Both my parents and my entire family have been instrumental in my healing," Foxx adds.
Today, she is grateful to no longer be in pain, however, she realizes that not everyone is as privileged as she is, so she decided to share her story in hopes that it will help others.
"..Not everyone has access to a doctor as amazing as her. After I healed, I reached out to the Endometriosis Foundation of America and said I wanted to share my story. I tried to get more information on endometriosis out into the world because I wanted to make someone else’s diagnosis journey more manageable than mine," Foxx says.
RELATED: Endometriosis: It’s Not Just Painful Periods
She also hopes her story will help other Black women who don't feel heard by healthcare professionals find the tools to advocate for themselves.
"I did not feel like I was being taken seriously, like I was being believed. When you’re in so much pain, you know something’s wrong. You look fine from the outside when you have an invisible illness. You couldn’t tell that I was sick. So, I had to advocate for myself," Foxx adds. "As a woman of color, it’s harder to have our voices heard and to be believed when talking about something wrong that’s going on in our bodies or the world, too."
She most recently partnered with Sollis Health for their new “Warriors” campaign, which aims to pave a new path in body diversity and reverse the shame, stigma, and silencing felt by 60% of people living with chronic illness, according to the CDC.
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"My advocacy work is some of my most important work. I feel like I’ve been given this incredibly privileged, blessed life. It’s my duty to share my story with others to help them find the right avenues for whatever they’re struggling with. I’m also an advocate for mental health," Foxx shares. "I also work closely with The National Alliance to speak about mental illness. I’ve shared my story with anxiety, and now I partner with the Endometriosis Foundation of America, and I’m sharing my story with endometriosis. I want to make someone else’s journey not as difficult as mine."
Her advocacy work also includes making sure her sisters are aware of how to advocate for themselves.
"I have two sisters that are 14 and 15 years old. I’ve been very candid with them about my experience so that if they experience any pain in the future, they know what to do, they know where to go, and I can kind of guide the way for them," Foxx says.
Managing endometriosis
According to the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus.
The illness is often referred to as invisible and most commonly involves your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining your pelvis. When endometriosis involves the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas can form. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions — bands of fibrous tissue that can cause pelvic tissues and organs to stick to each other.
The pain can intensify during your menstrual cycle and be mistaken for cramps.
There isn't a cure for endometriosis, however, there are several options available to provide relief from symptoms including medication and conservative surgery.
A healthy diet and exercise can also be beneficial in managing endometriosis.
"A healthy diet and exercise stress management are huge for the condition because it’s an inflammatory disease. So when you’re stressed, your body is more inflamed, and therefore your symptoms will worsen. Meditation practice is critical for me to sleep," Foxx says.
Finding a doctor with whom you feel comfortable will be a crucial step toward managing and treating endometriosis. Before starting any treatment, consider getting a second opinion to be sure you know all of your options and the possible outcomes.
