When Selena Gomez announced that she was canceling the Asian and Australian leg of her tour [1] to take some time for herself, rumors that the singer was rehab-bound after suffering a breakdown began buzzing. But according to a new report, the "me time" Gomez is seeking is to deal with the fact she's suffering from Lupus.


Sources told Popdust that the 21-year-old singer was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease a couple of years ago[2] , and suffered multiple "flares" recently, that cause facial swelling, extreme fatigue, headaches and joint pain.


“Selena has been going full throttle the past few years and her Lupus is really catching up with her right now,” a source told the website. “She knows that she needs to take some time to address the disease and look after herself better if she wants to live a full and healthy life."


A rep for the singer told the Huffington Post "no comment" when asked if Gomez was suffering from the disease. However, when rehab rumors first stated a source denied the reports to E! News[3] , but made mention of the singer's health concerns:


"She is not having a breakdown. She wants to be the healthiest that she can be and this means taking a little break. But she is fine. She is OK."



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    LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Singers Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift at the 2011 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)




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    US singer Selena Gomez (C) performs with her band on stage during the MTV European Music Awards (EMA) at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on November 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)




  • US actress and singer and MTV host Selena Gomez


    US actress and singer and MTV host Selena Gomez poses on the red carpet at the MTV European Music Awards (EMA) at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on November 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO / PETER MUHLY (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)




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    Selena Gomez arrives to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, for the 84th Annual Academy Awards, at the Sunset Tower on February 26, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)




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    US singer and actress Selena Gomez performs in Montevideo on February 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Pablo PORCIUNCULA (Photo credit should read PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP/Getty Images)




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