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Actress Busy Philipps has revealed her recent diagnosis of a rare brain tumor. The 47-year-old underwent two surgeries after a routine full-body scan detected the growth.
Philipps shared details of the experience in a PEOPLE magazine cover story. She said the past six months felt like the most surreal period of her life.
The actress, known for Freaks and Geeks and Dawson’s Creek, had no specific symptoms before the scan. However, she said an unexplained instinct pushed her to book the appointment.
A Routine Scan Finds a Brain Tumor
Philipps learned about the Prenuvo full-body MRI through Instagram. She initially scheduled the scan for January.
A blizzard later delayed the appointment until February 12. That date came one day after her Dawson’s Creek co-star James Van Der Beek died from cancer.
Doctors discovered a lesion during the scan and recommended another MRI. A neurologist then confirmed that the growth was a real tumor inside her brain.
Philipps said the news left her hyperventilating as she struggled to process the diagnosis. Doctors told her that the tumor needed removal.
Busy Philipps Undergoes First Surgery
Doctors diagnosed Philipps with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma. The National Cancer Institute describes oligodendrogliomas as rare tumors that begin in the brain or spinal cord. Grade 2 tumors generally grow slowly and may develop for years without symptoms.
Surgeons removed the 2.6-centimeter tumor during a five-hour operation on March 2. Her neurosurgeon, Dr. John Golfinos, said early detection helped improve her treatment outcome.
According to Golfinos, waiting for symptoms could have allowed the tumor to grow considerably larger. That could have made complete removal more difficult.
The diagnosis came only weeks before Philipps planned to begin filming her new series, Cupertino. Despite the shock, she said she felt grateful to be alive.
Infection Leads to a Second Surgery
Philipps later faced another medical setback. About one month after her first operation, her dermatologist noticed a problem near the surgical incision.
The dermatologist spotted the issue during a Botox appointment and refused to continue with the treatment. A wound care specialist later identified a staph infection at the incision site.
Doctors treated the infection early, but Philipps still needed another operation. Surgeons performed the second procedure on April 27.
During that surgery, doctors also removed a small titanium tack from her skull. The tack had helped hold the bone in place after the first operation.
Golfinos said the early discovery prevented the infection from becoming deeper. Philipps had also received antibiotics before the second procedure.
Telling Her Children About the Diagnosis
Philipps said telling her two children proved especially difficult. Her children, Birdie, 18, and Cricket, 13, reacted differently to the news.
She described Birdie as extremely frightened and overwhelmed. Philipps tried to reassure her daughter that she would survive the illness.
Cricket responded more calmly, according to Philipps. The actress said her younger child accepted her reassurance that everything would be fine.
Philipps later reflected on the importance of trusting personal instincts. She encouraged people to seek medical information when something feels wrong.
What Is Oligodendroglioma?
The NCI describes oligodendroglioma as a rare, slow-growing tumor that begins in oligodendrocytes. These cells help support and protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
The NCI says seizures represent the most common symptom. Around 60 percent of patients experience a seizure before diagnosis. Other symptoms can include headaches, memory problems, weakness, numbness, and balance difficulties.
However, grade 2 tumors can remain unnoticed for years because they may cause no symptoms. Doctors typically use surgery to obtain tissue for an accurate diagnosis and remove as much tumor as possible.
Philipps has continued reflecting on the experience after her surgeries. She said having information can feel empowering rather than frightening.
Her story has also highlighted the challenges of detecting brain tumors before symptoms appear. Meanwhile, Philipps remains grateful that doctors found her tumor early and treated it.
