In 2025, AEW personality Rebel (Tanea Brooks) revealed that she was diagnosed with primary pulmonary lymphoma, a rare form of lung cancer.
In an Instagram video, the 47-year-old explained that she has spent more than a year battling what she initially believed was a severe fungal infection, only to learn recently that the true cause was cancer.
Rebel said her health issues began in May 2024, when she was hospitalized after doctors found masses in her lungs. She was told at the time that she had cryptococcal pneumonia and spent the next year on anti-fungal medication.
During that period, she continued to struggle with complications, saying, “Along the way, there was… it wasn’t a very smooth sailing journey. There were infections, ruptures, tumors, so I had to address those as well.”
Despite the prolonged treatment, her condition didn’t improve, prompting her to seek another opinion at the Mayo Clinic. That decision led to a life-changing discovery. “After a year of not getting better, I decided to go to the Mayo Clinic… and they found that it was not cryptococcal pneumonia this whole time. It is primary pulmonary lymphoma, which is cancer in the lungs. And if there’s a best-case scenario, then I have it, so that’s good.”
In addition to the cancer diagnosis, Rebel revealed she is also dealing with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition that has significantly affected her mobility and speech. She explained that she can no longer walk unassisted and now uses a walker, and she has lost much of the function in her right hand, including the ability to write. Her speech has also been impacted.
On January 16, Rebel revealed that she’s officially disabled:
“Saddens me to say it’s official. Disabled. But I’m not going to stop fighting. I’m working on getting into a better rehab.”
On February 24, Rebel gave the following update:
“I’ve been trying a few different rehabs, and I’m not getting great results. While I’m waiting for doctors to figure out what to do next, I was able to get into an inpatient rehab. I’m doing speech therapy for my speech. Chewing and swallowing are difficult. I’m getting occupational therapy to help me raise my hands because they’re clawing. It’s very hard for me to open a Ziploc bag, cook, brush my teeth, put on deodorant, or even wipe myself. It’s a lot, guys.
It feels like I have 40-pound weights hanging off my wrists when I try to lift them, so everything is a workout. I’m also getting physical therapy to help with my walking and my gait. Right now, I’m walking with a walker. I can walk without it, but I’m a big fall risk, so we take precautions.
Thank you guys for all the prayers. I’m staying strong and looking to get stronger and hopefully regain some independence because I can’t wash my hair by myself. If I try, it’s really hard.
I definitely miss being on the road and on TV. That’s why I’m here at rehab in the hospital, because I plan on getting back and getting stronger. I know I sound different with my speech, but at least I can still speak.”
You can watch her complete update below:
