Busy Philipps Diagnosed with Rare Brain Tumor Following Health Scan

<p>Busy Philipps has disclosed her diagnosis of a rare brain tumor. In an interview with People magazine, the 47-year-old actress described the moment her doctor informed her of the tumor, which occurred the day after the death of her "Dawson's Creek" co-star, James Van Der Beek, from colorectal cancer.</p><p>Philipps recalled Dr. Devinsky's words: "I'm just going to say this to you the way I would want someone to say it to me." She described feeling overwhelmed and needing to sit down as he explained, "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."</p><p>She was referred to Dr. John Golfinos at NYU Langone and underwent a five-hour surgery on March 2, during which a 2.6-centimeter mass was removed from her brain. The mass was biopsied and identified as a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare tumor that Dr. Alexandra Miller, Philipps’s neuro-oncologist, noted affects 1,100 to 1,300 individuals annually in the U.S. Miller explained that while it is considered malignant, it has a favorable prognosis compared to other malignant gliomas.</p><p>Philipps's diagnosis followed her conversation with her cousin’s husband, a doctor in Los Angeles, regarding her interest in a Prenuvo scan. Although her primary care doctor had previously advised against it, her cousin's husband encouraged her to pursue the scan, stating, "I think knowledge is power."</p><p>After undergoing the scan, Philipps received a call from her cousin's husband informing her of a lesion on her brain, prompting her to get an MRI. Dr. Devinsky later confirmed the presence of a tumor that required removal. Dr. Golfinos stated that early detection made the surgery easier, noting that if the tumor had been discovered later, it could have been significantly larger.</p><p>Following her recovery, Philipps underwent another surgery after her dermatologist expressed concern about her incision site. She had contracted staphylococcus, necessitating additional treatment, which left her feeling frustrated.</p><p>Despite these health challenges, Philipps continued to work on her upcoming legal drama, "Cupertino," where she portrays the ex-wife of an AI billionaire who funds a new law firm. She does not require chemotherapy or radiation but will have regular scans to monitor for any potential recurrence. Philipps emphasized the importance of trusting one's instincts, stating, "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. There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering."</p>