Busy Philipps revealed her experience of being diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. In an interview with People magazine, the ‘Cougar Town’ actress recounted the shocking moment when her doctor informed her of the diagnosis. This came a day after her ‘Dawson’s Creek’ co-star, James Van Der Beek, passed away due to colorectal cancer.
“Dr. Devinsky said, ‘I’m just going to say this to you the way I would want someone to say it to me,'” she recalled.
The news left Philipps stunned. She vividly remembered needing to sit down as she processed the information. Her doctor emphasized the urgency, explaining, “This is a real tumor, and it’s inside your brain, Busy. It’s got to come out. We have to remove it.”
She consulted with Dr. John Golfinos at NYU Langone, who performed a five-hour surgery on March 2 to remove a 2.6-centimeter mass from her brain. Testing showed it was a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare tumor affecting 1,100 to 1,300 people annually in the U.S. Despite being classified as malignant, it has a comparatively favorable prognosis.
Philipps decided to pursue a Prenuvo scan at the suggestion of her cousin’s husband, contrary to her primary care doctor’s previous advice. Following the scan, Philipps received a call advising an MRI, which confirmed the presence of a tumor.
Dr. Golfinos mentioned that the tumor’s early detection significantly eased the surgical procedure. Had it been discovered later, the tumor could have been significantly larger.
Philipps faced further health challenges post-surgery. Her dermatologist noticed a concerning issue at the incision site, leading to the discovery of a staphylococcus infection. This required another surgery, leaving Philipps feeling frustrated due to the setback.
Despite these challenges, she continued to work on the legal drama ‘Cupertino,’ portraying the ex-wife of an AI billionaire.
Philipps needs no chemotherapy or radiation but will have routine scans to monitor for any recurrence. The actress emphasized learning to trust her instincts through the process.
“We are frequently told by doctors there is nothing to worry about [when] you kind of know there’s something to worry about,” she said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering.”