Actress Busy Philipps, 47, has revealed she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in February. The diagnosis followed a full-body MRI scan taken the day after the death of her "Dawson's Creek" co-star James Van Der Beek from colon cancer.
Philipps underwent surgery in early March, shortly before she began filming her new show, "Cupertino." She described the past six months as "the weirdest" of her life but expressed gratitude for being alive.
The tumor, a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, is a rare, slow-growing type found in approximately 1,100 to 1,300 people annually in the U.S. Philipps had no prior symptoms. The lesion was discovered when she was inspired to undergo an MRI scan, which screens for over 500 conditions, after reading about it on Instagram.
Initially scheduled for January, her scan was postponed to February 12 due to a blizzard. While considering canceling the appointment amid her grief and a busy work schedule, her ex-husband and friend, filmmaker Marc Silverstein, encouraged her to proceed, suggesting James Van Der Beek would have wanted her to prioritize her health.
The initial scan revealed a brain lesion, but an aggressive cancerous tumor called glioblastoma was quickly ruled out. A follow-up MRI was recommended for a closer examination. During the follow-up call, her doctor informed her, "This is a real tumor, and it's inside your brain. And Busy, it's got to come out," an announcement that caused her to hyperventilate.
In early March, she underwent a five-hour surgery to remove the 2.6-centimeter tumor. Silverstein, father to Philipps' daughters Birdie, 17, and Cricket, 13, provided support at the hospital.
Philipps recalled telling her daughters about the diagnosis. Her eldest daughter, Birdie, was overwhelmed with emotion, while Cricket's response was more pragmatic, asking if her mother would be okay.
A biopsy confirmed the tumor was malignant, though her doctor indicated it had the best prognosis among malignant gliomas. In April, Philipps required a second surgery to address a Staphylococcus infection in her incision, discovered during a routine dermatology appointment.
This second surgery, occurring as she began filming her new show, was particularly difficult, making her feel like she was back at square one. Philipps has since reflected that some of her pronounced emotional reactions over the past couple of years may have stemmed from the tumor pressing on her frontal lobe, rather than perimenopause, as she had previously assumed.
Her best friend and "Dawson's Creek" co-star Michelle Williams, who assisted in her care post-surgery, pointed out that Philipps had been frequently stating for the past two years that her "brain feels broken," a sentiment that now resonates with the actress. She noted that while she wasn't consciously aware of anything being seriously wrong, her brain felt like it was misfiring, a sensation that has since resolved.