Actress Busy Philipps recently opened up about a significant health challenge, revealing she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor following a body scan her primary physician had advised against.
In a detailed account shared with People magazine, the 47-year-old star, known for her roles in shows like "Cougar Town," recounted the jarring moment she learned of the tumor. This revelation came shortly after she received personal news concerning a former co-star from "Dawson's Creek."
The Path to Discovery
Philipps' journey to diagnosis began when she expressed interest in undergoing a Prenuvo scan to her primary care doctor in 2025. Her physician, however, deemed it unnecessary, stating, "You're super healthy. We've done all this other blood work. We've done, like, all kinds of tests. You're super healthy. There's no need for you to get one."
Undeterred, Philipps later discussed her interest with her cousin's husband, a medical professional in Los Angeles. He enthusiastically supported the idea, telling her, "Oh, I love them." When Philipps mentioned her doctor's previous advice, he respectfully disagreed, emphasizing, "I think knowledge is power." This perspective resonated deeply with Philipps, who felt a similar intuition to proceed with the scan. Her cousin's husband then assisted her in arranging the appointment.
After completing the scan, the "Freaks and Geeks" alum attended an audition. Later that evening, she received a call from her cousin's husband, who informed her that the scan had revealed a lesion on her brain and urged her to get an MRI.
Delivering the Difficult News
The MRI confirmed the presence of a tumor. Dr. Devinsky delivered the news to Philipps with a direct approach, recalling his words: "I'm just going to say this to you the way I would want someone to say it to me."
"And that was when the wind like sort of knocked out of me, and I had to sit down. He was like, 'I need you to breathe. I can hear that you're not breathing.' And I was like, 'Just tell me what's happening.' And he's like, 'This isn't any of those other things that they said it could be. This is a real tumor, and it's inside your brain, and Busy, it's got to come out. We got to take it out.'"
Following this urgent recommendation, Philipps was connected with Dr. John Golfinos of NYU Langone. A five-hour surgery was scheduled for March 2, during which surgeons successfully removed a 2.6-centimeter mass from her brain.
Diagnosis and Prognosis
The removed mass underwent biopsy, revealing it to be a grade 2 oligodendroglioma. Dr. Alexandra Miller, Philipps' neuro-oncologist at NYU Langone, explained to People that this is a rare type of tumor, affecting approximately 1,100 to 1,300 individuals annually in the U.S. While it is classified as malignant, Dr. Miller noted it carries "the best prognosis of all of the malignant gliomas."
Dr. Miller further clarified the nature of the tumor: "It’s sort of defined as a cancerous tumor based on the ability of the tumor to regrow over time, rather than it looking very malignant under the microscope."
Dr. John Golfinos, Philipps' neurosurgeon, highlighted the critical role of early detection, stating that had the tumor been discovered later, it "would have been two or three times the size," making the surgical procedure significantly more complex.
Post-Operative Complications and Moving Forward
Just over a month into her recovery, Philipps faced a setback. Her dermatologist flagged concerns about her incision site, leading to the discovery of a staphylococcus infection. This required an additional surgery to address, leaving Philipps feeling "really upset" and "like I was back at square one."
Despite these health challenges, Philipps demonstrated remarkable resilience, managing to film her upcoming legal drama, "Cupertino." In the series, she portrays the ex-wife of an AI billionaire who becomes the financier of a new law firm.
Currently, Philipps does not require chemotherapy or radiation. However, she will undergo regular scans to monitor for any potential reoccurrence of the tumor. Reflecting on her experience, the actress emphasized the profound lesson she learned about trusting her intuition regarding her health.
"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 remarked. "There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering."
