Rebel Diagnosed with Pulmonary Lymphoma

AEW talent and backstage makeup artist Rebel, real name Tanea Brooks, announced earlier today on Twitter that she has been diagnosed with primary pulmonary lymphoma, which is a type of cancer in the lungs.

Brooks stated that she was originally diagnosed with cryptococcal pneumonia in May of 2024 but after a year of her health condition not improving, she went to the Mayo Clinic and was told it was not that and instead diagnosed her with pulmonary lymphoma.

“After a year of not getting better, I decided to go to the Mayo Clinic and see if I could get treated by them and they found that it was not cryptococcal pneumonia this whole time and that it is primary pulmonary lymphoma, which is cancer in the lungs. And if there is a best case scenario then I have it so that’s good.

Tomorrow I start rehab because along this tumultuous journey I picked up a little disorder called functional neurological disorder and it has taken my ability to walk. I now walk with a walker and my ability to speak clearly, I don’t know if you can tell, but it sounds like I bit my tongue.”

Rebel also stated that she has lost some function in her right hand due to a separate neurological condition she is currently dealing with called Functional Neurological Disorder. Rebel stated that her scheduled therapy for it starts on Monday, November 17th and runs Monday thru Friday from 8AM to 5PM or “like a full time job.”

Rebel also stated that treatment for her cancer will not begin until she first finishes treatment for an infection she is currently receiving IV antibiotics for. Rebel also stated that she is currently hoping that she will be able to start her cancer treatment by around the first of 2026.

“And once that’s finished, hopefully in December, I will go in for a third bronchoscopy to determine what kind of treatment are we having, chemo, radiation, immunology and then we’ll start there and then we’ll kick its ass, OK? So I’m hoping that will start around the first of 2026.”

Health update. Asking for your prayers and support 🙏🏼. I hope to keep you updated in my rehab journey. #lymphoma #cancer #nonhodgkinslymphoma #lungs #fnd #css #mycobacteriumabscessus #rebel pic.twitter.com/hi9fzKZQ9j

— REBEL (@RebelTanea) November 16, 2025

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com