Nick Cannon: My autoimmune disease is "a lupus type of thing"

(CBS News) Nick Cannon has had a rough year health-wise, having been in and out of the hospital, and more recently stepping down as a morning radio show host in New York after doctors found blood clots in his lungs.

The 31-year-old entertainer recently opened up to People about what's really been going on with his health. Cannon said his kidney problems were connected to an autoimmune disease and that his recent blood clots were the result of a kidney infection.

"It's a lot of stuff, but it's all in order now," Cannon said.

As for whether his condition is hereditary, Cannon told People, "They kind of say [my] autoimmune [disease] is - like a lupus type of thing, but no one else in my family has it."

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body), as described by the Lupus Foundation of America.

Cannon said he feels lucky to be alive, telling People, "If it wasn't discovered, I don't know [what would have happened]."

Eliminating his radio show has given Cannon more time to spend with his wife, singer Mariah Carey, and their twins. He joined Carey Thursday night in New York at the launch party for a new cruise ship.

And while he's at it, Cannon is also trying to educate others about kidney disease.