Actress Busy Philipps has revealed that she underwent two surgeries this spring after doctors discovered a malignant grade 2 oligodendroglioma in her brain.
Philipps, 47, told PEOPLE that the health crisis became “the weirdest six months” of her life while she was preparing to film the CBS series Cupertino.
She said she is grateful to be alive and credited an unexpected medical scan with helping identify the tumor before symptoms appeared.
The discovery followed a full body Prenuvo MRI that Philipps initially considered after learning about the service on Instagram.
Her primary care doctor had previously told her there was no need for the scan because she was young and healthy, but her cousin’s husband, internist Dr. Justin Donlan, encouraged her with the idea that “knowledge is power.”
The scan revealed a brain lesion. After a follow-up MRI, neurologist Dr. Orrin Devinsky told Philipps that the mass was a genuine tumor and needed to be removed.
Dr. John Golfinos of NYU Langone performed the roughly five-hour operation on March 2. Testing identified the tumor as an oligodendroglioma, a rare tumor associated with two genetic alterations.
Neuro-oncologist Dr. Alexandra Miller said it is considered malignant but has the best prognosis among malignant gliomas.
Golfinos also said earlier detection likely made complete removal easier because the tumor could have been substantially larger if discovered after symptoms developed.
Philipps recovered quickly, walking around the hospital within a day and returning home two days after surgery. She later began filming Cupertino, but another complication emerged in April.
During a dermatologist appointment for Botox, her doctor noticed that the incision did not appear normal. After photographs were sent to Philipps’ surgeons, they determined that the site required immediate attention.
A second surgery on April 27 removed a staph infection. Throughout the ordeal, Philipps said humor helped her cope. She even jokingly asked Golfinos whether he could perform a brow lift during the tumor operation. He laughed and declined.
Despite the medical emergency, Philipps continued working toward her role as Natalia Boutella in Cupertino, while receiving support from family, friends and former Dawson’s Creek co-star Michelle Williams.
