Jeana Keough, a former cast member of "The Real Housewives of Orange County," is currently undergoing treatment for tongue cancer and has shared her prognosis, indicating a 40 to 60 percent cure rate within the next five years. Keough, 70, spoke about her diagnosis and treatment via email while unable to speak due to the effects of her medical care.
Keough's treatment regimen has included daily radiation sessions, weekly chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, alongside frequent bloodwork and intravenous hydration. She reported that the effects of radiation have been the most challenging aspect, causing significant pain, soreness, and inflammation in her neck, mouth, and head, which has made talking, swallowing, and breathing extremely difficult.
Delayed Diagnosis and Treatment
Keough recounted that the diagnosis was delayed due to what she described as a "huge mistake" by her dentist. Last year, she visited her dentist for a persistent sore on her tongue. The dentist repeatedly filed down a tooth, asserting that the tooth was the cause of the discomfort and did not suggest a specialist or biopsy. After several visits, Keough was eventually referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor.
Keough stated she could not afford the biopsy at the time because the ENT's office did not accept her insurance. A few days later, during a visit with her daughter, Kara Bosworth, Keough mentioned the persistent tongue pain. Bosworth questioned why a long-standing tooth would suddenly cause issues and urged her mother to schedule a biopsy immediately upon returning home.
Upon her return, Keough saw another doctor who immediately identified the condition as cancer. A subsequent biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, leading to surgery for a tongue dissection and, later, a neck dissection to remove 30 to 40 lymph nodes due to a small abnormality noted on scans.
Recovery and Support
Due to her inability to swallow, Keough has a feeding tube, which she anticipates needing for two to six months. She described the recovery as a long climb and expressed the difficulty of feeling dependent on others, given her previously independent nature. Her children, Shane, Kara, and Colton, along with friends and her new boyfriend, Thomas, have been providing significant support throughout her treatment.
Keough also highlighted the support from her boyfriend's sister, who is a dentist and expressed strong disapproval of her initial dentist's actions. She has also received supportive messages from former "RHOC" co-stars, including Alexis Bellino, Vicki Gunvalson, and Tamra Judge.
Keough's ex-husband, former MLB star Matt Keough, died in May 2020 at the age of 64. She is urging others to be proactive about their health, advising, "Get a good dentist, and if something doesn’t feel right, demand answers."