The world lost the 'Queen of rock 'n roll' on May 24 as it was announced Tina Turned passed away aged 83.
The music legend was said to have died peacefully in her sleep at her home near Zurich in Switzerland. Despite the news coming as a shock to people across the globe, the singer had been quietly struggling with her health for quite some time.
Alluding to her health struggles in the heartbreaking announcement, Tina's family explained she had suffered a long battle with illness. The late singer reportedly suffered from a stroke as well as experiencing kidney disease and other illnesses. The 'The Best' singer was also diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016.
Kidney disease and the symptoms she ignored until it was 'too late'
Back in March, Tina took to social media to urge her fans to look after themselves and listen to their bodies as she raised awareness of kidney failure on International World Kidney Day.
The post read: "My kidneys are victims of my not realising that my high blood pressure should have been treated with conventional medicine. I have put myself in great danger by refusing to face the reality that I need daily, lifelong therapy with medication. For far too long I believed that my body was an untouchable and indestructible bastion."
The Instagram message linked to a blog post on showyourkidneyslove.com where the later singer detailed the symptoms she experienced and ignored as her kidneys began to fail prior to her cancer diagnosis.
Tina explained that her kidney issues were caused by hypertension - high blood pressure - which she regrettably failed to treat despite knowing of the health concern.
The singer's high blood pressure required daily medication which she at the time refused to implement into her routine as she, at the time, considered her body "an invulnerable and indestructible bastion".
It was not until the music star began to experience symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea and irritability - that she first blamed on her medication - she realise the kidney disease was entering its final stage.
She explained "I kept feeling nauseous and dizzy, forgot things, and was scared a lot".
Her lack of consistently in regards to taking vital medication meant that her body had reached an irreversible stage as kidney function reached an all time low.
Ms Turner required nine months of dialysis before undergoing a kidney transplant in 2017.
Other health issues
It was also revealed in 2018 that Tina experienced a stroke in 2013, with this being the first of her health emergencies.
In her memoir My Love Story, Tina explained: "I woke up suddenly and in a panic. A lightning bolt struck my head and my right leg — at least that’s how it felt — and I had a funny sensation in my mouth that made it difficult for me to call out to Erwin for help," she penned.
"I suspected it wasn’t good, but it was worse than I ever imagined. I was having a stroke."
Tina lost her ability to walk after the stroke but regained her mobility around 10 days after the emergency.
However, Tina's kidneys and blood pressure issues as well as her previous stroke were not the only things of concern when it came to her health.
The singer was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer - intestinal cancer - in 2016. The disease is found in the small intestine, with symptoms including severe abdominal cramps, bloody stools, lump in the abdomen, and sudden weight loss.
The singer revealed in her book that her cancer was found after she suffered diarrhoea for months.
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