Busy Philipps is opening up about a frightening health crisis that she kept private for months. The 47-year-old actress revealed that doctors discovered a rare malignant brain tumor earlier this year, leading to brain surgery in March and an unexpected second operation after she developed an infection.
Philipps, known for Freaks and Geeks, Dawson’s Creek, Cougar Town and Girls5eva, is now sharing the details of her diagnosis, treatment and recovery for the first time. "I'm grateful that I'm alive," Philipps told PEOPLE in an interview published Aug. 26. She described the ordeal as "the weirdest six months of my life."
© GC ImagesPhilipps was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare, slow-growing type of brain tumor. The mass was found in her frontal lobe despite the actress having no obvious symptoms such as seizures.
How Busy Philipps' Brain Tumor Was Discovered
Philipps' diagnosis began with a decision to undergo a Prenuvo full-body MRI scan.
She had become interested in the screening after learning about it on Instagram. According to PEOPLE, Philipps had previously discussed getting the scan with her primary care doctor, who didn't believe it was necessary because she was young, healthy and had normal blood work. Still, Philipps felt compelled to go through with it.
© Getty ImagesThe timing was particularly emotional. Her scan took place on Feb. 12, one day after the death of her former Dawson's Creek costar James Van Der Beek. Philipps nearly canceled the appointment amid everything happening in her life, but ultimately decided to keep it.
The scan revealed a lesion on Philipps' brain. Doctors were initially able to rule out glioblastoma based on its appearance, but she was told she needed additional imaging as soon as possible. A follow-up MRI confirmed that the mass required surgery.
Busy Philipps Underwent Brain Surgery in March
Philipps underwent an approximately five-hour operation on March 2 at NYU Langone. Her ex-husband and close friend, filmmaker Marc Silverstein, accompanied her to the hospital. Surgeons removed the 2.6-centimeter mass and sent it for testing.
© Getty ImagesThe results showed that Philipps had an oligodendroglioma. According to her neuro-oncologist, Dr. Alexandra Miller, the tumor is considered malignant because of its potential to grow back over time. Miller told PEOPLE that it has the best prognosis among malignant gliomas. Philipps' tumor was classified as grade 2 on a scale ranging from 2 to 4.
Her neurosurgeon, Dr. John Golfinos, also stressed the significance of finding the tumor before Philipps developed symptoms. Had it remained undetected until symptoms such as seizures appeared, it could have grown considerably larger and become more difficult to remove completely.
Telling Her Daughters About the Brain Tumor
One of the most difficult parts of the diagnosis was telling her daughters, Birdie, 18, and Cricket, 13, whom Philipps shares with Silverstein.
Philipps initially waited until she had clearer medical information before discussing the situation with them. Birdie was particularly frightened and emotional after learning about her mother's diagnosis, Philipps recalled, while Cricket responded more calmly. The actress tried to reassure both children that she believed she was going to be okay.
© Getty Images for ALICE + OLIVIAMeanwhile, Philipps was also facing a major moment in her career. She had landed a role in the CBS series Cupertino just as she was dealing with the diagnosis. She ultimately told series creators Robert and Michelle King about her medical situation and said they were supportive. Philipps recovered quickly enough from the initial surgery to begin working on the show.
A Staph Infection Led to a Second Surgery
Philipps' recovery took another frightening turn in April.
While visiting her dermatologist for a Botox appointment, the doctor noticed that Philipps' surgical incision didn't look right and urged her to immediately send a photograph to her surgical team. Doctors discovered that Philipps had developed a staphylococcus infection at the incision site.
Antibiotics were not enough to resolve the problem, and Philipps returned to the hospital for a second operation on April 27. Doctors performed debridement surgery to clear the infection and removed one of the small titanium tacks that had been used during her first operation to secure the bone in her skull.
Fortunately, doctors caught the infection before it became deep.
Emotionally, however, Philipps found the setback harder to handle than her initial recovery. She said the second surgery left her feeling as though she had returned to the beginning of the process. “The second surgery really threw me. I just felt like I was back to square one, and I was really, really upset,” she told People. According to the publication, Philipps soon “bounced right back,” adding, “she really was indomitable.”
Does Busy Philipps Need Chemotherapy or Radiation?
For now, Philipps does not need chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Instead, doctors will continue monitoring her with regular scans because oligodendrogliomas can recur. Her medical team has expressed optimism about her outlook, with Golfinos saying she has a strong chance that the tumor may not return.
© AFP via Getty ImagesPhilipps has also reflected on whether changes she noticed before her diagnosis could have been connected to the tumor.
She described experiencing unusually intense emotional reactions over the previous few years. Because the tumor was located in her frontal lobe, Philipps wondered whether it could have played a role, although her doctor told her there is no way to know for certain.
