National Enquirer

TRAGIC MEDICAL SECRET!

SPOTTED SNEAKING INTO AND STAGGERING OUT OF TREATMENT CENTER

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RAPPER Queen Latifah has been secretly visiting a cancer treatment center for almost a year, The National ENQUIRER has learned exclusivel­y.

The 48-year-old hip-hop star has sneaked into a Beverly Hills facility that specialize­s in treating advanced cancer and blood diseases — and has appeared weak and unsteady on her feet when leaving.

“It’s a serious concern,” spilled an insider. “She goes every couple of weeks and spends two or three hours inside the infusion unit. She’s been going for at least eight months!”

The “Chicago” star usually pulls up to the building by herself in a white Range

Rover. Occasional­ly, she’s chauffeure­d in a Rolls-Royce by an assistant. After a recent appointmen­t, Latifah was seen clutching a stack of documents in one hand and a revitalizi­ng drink in the other.

On Oct. 2, she was spotted staggering out of the center, which is affiliated with the highly regarded Cedars-Sinai group.

Latifah’s health crisis follows the death of her beloved mother, Rita Owens, who succumbed to a heart condition on March 21 after a decade-long battle.

“Rita had chronic heart failure and was on medication. She had a defibrilla­tor implanted in her chest, and Latifah was her constant caregiver to the very end,” a friend said.

Happily, the future isn’t all doom and gloom for the “Hairspray” star.

In world exclusive

photograph­s obtained by

The ENQUIRER, Latifah’s longtime partner, Eboni Nichols, 40, sported a massive engagement ring and flaunted an obvious baby bump Oct. 3! “Friends are saying

Latifah and Eboni are finally engaged,” spilled an insider. And a source added: “This will be the first child for Latifah.”

Latifah met Eboni, a choreograp­her and former Los Angeles Lakers cheerleade­r, on the set of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2009.

The two went public after they were caught kissing in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, in 2013. They split in 2015 but reunited on a passionate getaway to Cabo San Lucas last summer. “Eboni looks so happy,” dished The ENQUIRER’s spywitness.

“She’s positively glowing and when she stopped to talk to some people outside a Pilates studio she was smiling and cradling her baby bump.” Latifah’s made no secret of her desire to start a family, telling a Television Critics Associatio­n audience in

August 2017 that it’s definitely been on her mind.

“I had to get a lot of partying out of my system early in life for about 40 years, you know what I’m saying. I’m good now. I think I’m ready,” she confessed.

Motherhood and marriage would be bitterswee­t for Latifah — who pals said still mourns the death of her older brother, Lance, a police officer in East Orange, N.J., who was killed while riding a motorcycle nearly two decades ago.

“Latifah bought Lance that motorcycle for his birthday and she thinks maybe he’d still be here if she hadn’t given it to him,” said a friend.

The insider added: “Fortunatel­y, Latifah has Eboni to comfort her. Eboni is the love of her life and everyone’s hoping Latifah’s health improves — especially if she’s going to be a mom!”

 ??  ?? Latifah’s health woes come on top of the death of her mother
Latifah’s health woes come on top of the death of her mother
 ??  ?? Eboni’s baby bump was on view Oct. 3!
Eboni’s baby bump was on view Oct. 3!
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Girlfriend Eboni’s a bright spot in Latifah’s life
Girlfriend Eboni’s a bright spot in Latifah’s life

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