Jeana Keough's Daughter Shares Heartbreaking Update on Her Tongue Cancer Battle

Jeana Keough's daughter, Kara Bosworth, has provided an update on her mother's difficult battle with tongue cancer, describing her current struggles with nutrition and the side effects of treatment. Keough, a former cast member of "The Real Housewives of Orange County," revealed her diagnosis in mid-July.

Bosworth, who recently visited her mother, told Page Six that Keough is finding it challenging to eat orally. "Mom's struggling. She's still not getting nutrition orally except maybe a few bites and then she gets frustrated with the effort and the lack of taste," Bosworth said. A feeding tube remains Keough's primary source of nutrition.

Bosworth also shared that her mother is experiencing significant regret regarding the impacts of her treatment. "I think she just wishes she didn’t do any treatment. [It’s been] very hard. She still is sleeping a lot and having a lot of coughing fits that cause her to vomit," Bosworth stated. Keough is undergoing speech and swallow therapy twice weekly, but Bosworth noted that there is still a long way to go.

In late July, Keough, who was unable to speak at the time, communicated via email that she anticipated using a feeding tube for two to six months. She had also shared that her cure rate was estimated between 40 to 60 percent within the next five years.

Since her diagnosis, the 71-year-old has undergone a series of treatments, including tongue dissection, surgery for the feeding tube, a neck dissection to remove lymph nodes, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. During this period, she was hospitalized for malnourishment and dehydration. She also received treatment for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) blood clot and an infection in her leg.

Keough previously recounted that she initially noticed a sore on her tongue last year. Her dentist at the time suggested it was due to a sharp tooth and repeatedly filed it down. However, after persistent discomfort, she was referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Bosworth encouraged Keough to undergo a biopsy, which confirmed the cancer.

Bosworth and her brothers, Shane Keough and Colton Keough, have expressed a sentiment that their mother might have received a diagnosis sooner.