Actress Busy Philipps revealed in a recent interview that she was diagnosed with a rare malignant brain tumor and has undergone two surgeries. Philipps described the experience as "the weirdest six months of [her] life" but stated she is "grateful to be alive" and considers herself "the luckiest girl in the world."
The tumor, identified as an oligodendroglioma, is a rare, slow-growing type. It was discovered on February 12 during a Prenuvo scan. Philipps had initially been hesitant to undergo the full-body MRI but was persuaded by her cousin-in-law, Dr. Justin Donlan, who advised that "knowledge is power."
Initially, Philipps communicated the discovery to her ex-husband, Marc Silverstein, via text, expressing concern about a lesion on her brain. After further examination, a neurologist confirmed the presence of a tumor that required removal.
The confirmation led Philipps to inform her two children, Birdie, 18, and Cricket, 13. She recounted reassuring her elder daughter that she would not die during her senior year of high school, while her younger daughter responded with a more pragmatic, "OK. You’re going to be fine?"
The 2.6-centimeter mass was surgically removed in a five-hour procedure on March 2. According to Philipps' neuro-oncologist, Dr. Alexandra Miller, the tumor was considered malignant due to its potential for regrowth over time. Dr. Miller noted that while it is a cancerous tumor, it has a favorable prognosis compared to other malignant gliomas.
During her recovery, Philipps contracted staphylococcus from the incision site, necessitating a second surgery to address the infection. This complication caused significant distress, making Philipps feel as though she was "back to square one."