Children of "Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Jeana Keough have provided an update on their mother's health, stating she is "strong" as she continues to battle tongue cancer. Keough is currently in her fifth week of treatment, which includes chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.
"She's strong through this," her son Shane told Us Weekly in an interview published Monday. He added that she has a "good support network" in her Southern California community, including her younger brother Colton, who is staying with her. Shane, who resides in Florida, emphasized the importance of her adherence to the treatment plan, stating, "We're just trying to make sure she stays on her program so she's strong when this is done."
Keough's daughter, Kara, expressed optimism about her mother's recovery. "I think she'll get cancer to bend to her will, like she does with everything else in life," Kara said. "We're choosing to stay in that mindset."
The family revealed Keough's diagnosis via a GoFundMe page, which was established to assist with medical expenses. Kara explained on the page that the cancer was discovered a few months prior when Keough noticed a painful spot on her tongue during a visit to Florida. Initial dental work to file down a suspected rubbing tooth proved insufficient, and subsequent testing confirmed the presence of "squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue."
Keough has undergone surgeries to remove the cancerous tissue and lymph nodes. However, doctors found that the cancer had spread after the second procedure. Kara detailed the challenging nature of the treatments, noting that Keough is "exhausted, struggling to stay awake, and becoming malnourished" due to the pain in her tongue and throat, which makes swallowing difficult. This has impacted her ability to work her commission-based job.
The GoFundMe goal has since been increased from $22,000 to $90,000. Among the donors is Bravo executive Andy Cohen, who contributed $5,000. Former "RHOC" castmates Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge have also publicly expressed their support and encouraged donations and prayers for Keough.