Jeana Keough, an alumna of "The Real Housewives of Orange County," is currently unable to speak as she undergoes treatment for tongue cancer. Her daughter, Kara Bosworth, shared on Instagram that the reality star is experiencing significant pain and discomfort.
"The tongue and throat pain, paired with the mucus from radiation on the area, is just brutal," Bosworth stated. "Poor mama has to spit into tissues all day." Keough, 70, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this month after noticing a painful spot on her tongue that had persisted for nearly a year.
Initially, Keough believed the spot was caused by a tooth rubbing against her tongue and had the tooth filed down multiple times. However, a biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
According to Bosworth, Keough had already undergone two surgeries, including one to remove lymph nodes, before her diagnosis was publicly announced. The cancer had spread, and she had been undergoing treatment for over a month.
In mid-July, Keough's son, Shane, told Us Weekly that his mother was remaining strong. However, Bosworth later shared an update on Instagram, revealing that Keough had to pause treatment due to a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) clot and an infection in her leg. This complication prevented her from receiving a feeding tube, which was necessary as she had been unable to eat for two weeks and was severely depleted.
"The feeding tube can’t be put directly into her stomach until there’s clarity on the infection," Bosworth explained. "Chemo and radiation is temporarily paused so we can figure this out but you better believe Jeana is insisting she only had a ‘fake fever’ and that she’s fine to continue with the surgery."
Keough was an original cast member of "RHOC" until Season 5 and has made guest appearances on the show in subsequent years. She is also the mother of two sons, Shane and Colton, and a daughter, Kara, from her previous marriage.