Fox News’ Janice Dean has shared a heartfelt message about her long-term, invisible struggle with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition she has been battling since her diagnosis in 2005. In honor of World MS Day, Dean opened up about the challenges of living with the disease, which she calls the “invisible illness.”

Dean explained that MS is often misunderstood because those who suffer from it may appear outwardly healthy. She described it as the “My, you look so well” disease, as individuals with MS can often look fine, with their hair and makeup done, but are silently battling the breakdown of communication between their brain and body. “Inside our body, it’s attacking our central nervous system, the brain, and the spine,” she said, emphasizing how MS disrupts the flow of signals from the brain to the rest of the body.

On this particular World MS Day, Dean shared that she was feeling the effects of her illness. She revealed experiencing a sunburn-like sensation on the back of her neck, which is just one of the many symptoms she deals with daily. Despite appearing upbeat on air as she smiles and presents on Fox & Friends, Dean explained that there are hidden challenges she faces, often requiring her to push through difficult moments.

Dean took the opportunity on World MS Day to express gratitude to her fellow MS warriors, acknowledging their shared strength in the face of adversity. She recognized the difficulty of putting on a smile, but underscored the importance of continuing to move forward despite the challenges.

Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers, leading to communication breakdowns between the brain and the body. While there is no cure for MS, over 2.8 million people worldwide live with the condition, according to the National MS Society.