Actress Busy Philipps Is ‘Grateful to Be Alive’ Following Rare Brain Tumor Diagnosis

Actress Busy Philipps revealed she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor earlier this year, which ultimately led to two surgeries and a lengthy road to recovery.

The 47-year-old shared details of her experience in an interview with People published on Aug. 26, describing the past six months as an unexpectedly difficult chapter of her life.

“I’m grateful that I’m alive,” Philipps told the outlet, while reflecting on the experience as “the weirdest six months of my life.”

Her diagnosis came after she decided to undergo a full-body Prenuvo scan, an MRI screening she had previously discussed with her doctor but was initially advised against as she was healthy and had no concerning symptoms.

After seeking a second medical opinion, however, she was encouraged to move forward with the screening on Feb. 12, just one day following the death of her former “Dawson’s Creek” co-star James Van Der Beek, who died from colorectal cancer at age 48.

The scan revealed a mass in her brain, identified as grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare, slow-growing type of brain tumor. Doctors determined that the tumor, located in the right frontal lobe, needed to be removed.

Philipps recalled her neurologist telling her after reviewing her scan: “‘This is a real tumor, and it’s inside your brain. And Busy, it’s got to come out.’”

“I was hyperventilating and trying to breathe,” she said. 

On March 2, Philipps underwent approximately five hours of surgery, during which doctors successfully removed the tumor, measuring around 2.6 to 2.8 centimeters.

While the initial operation went well, Philipps’s recovery was later complicated by a staphylococcus, a bacterial infection that can develop in wounds and other parts of the body, at the surgical site. She underwent a second procedure as a result and received an extended course of antibiotics.

“The second surgery really threw me,” she said. “I just felt like I was back to square one, and I was really, really upset.” 

The “Freaks and Geeks” and “Cougar Town” star now faces regular medical monitoring, with scans planned every three months for the next two years. Doctors have determined that she does not currently need chemotherapy or radiation, as the tumor was completely removed.

She returned to work on her upcoming CBS drama “Cupertino” only weeks after the first surgery, and is sharing her experience now in hopes of encouraging others to take their health concerns seriously.

“We are frequently told by doctors that there is nothing to worry about [when] you kind of know that there’s something to worry about,” she told People. “There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering.”