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💡 TLDR
Jeana Keough is fighting a brutal battle against tongue cancer after mistaking a tumor for a simple toothache for nearly a year. She’s currently battling exhaustion and malnutrition from intense chemo, but her family says she's staying incredibly optimistic through it all.
Lowkey (okay highkey) heart-wrenching news is coming out about RHOC legend Jeana Keough. While we remember her for those iconic Orange County eras, her daughter Kara Bosworth just opened up about a much more serious reality. The former Bravo star has been fighting squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue after realizing a persistent sore was something way more sinister than just dental issues.
A diagnosis that changed everything
It started when Jeana noticed an intense pain in her mouth, but she actually thought it was just a tooth rubbing against her tongue. She even went to the dentist multiple times to have the tooth filed down, thinking that would fix the irritation. It wasn’t until her daughter stepped in and realized the sore had actually been there for nearly a year that they decided to dig deeper. A biopsy confirmed our worst fear: squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. What was supposed to be a one-time surgery turned into a full-on battle once doctors found the cancer had spread during a second procedure to remove lymph nodes.
💫 A biopsy confirmed our worst fear: squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
Navigating the hardest fight yet
The physical toll on Jeana has been absolutely brutal. She is currently deep into her fifth week of chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, which has left her completely exhausted. Because the pain in her throat makes swallowing almost impossible, she’s struggling with malnutrition just trying to stay hydrated. To make matters worse, the financial hit is real—since her job is commission-based, being unable to work has created a massive burden right when she needs to focus on healing.
Even though things are incredibly heavy, her family says she’s staying impossibly optimistic through the uncertainty—a trait she’s shown before even facing scary things like wildfires. Her daughter shared that while Jeana is a warrior, she has always struggled with being vulnerable enough to ask for help when things get tough. We are rooting so hard for her as she fights through this.
Are you sending Jeana all the good vibes?
❓ People Also Ask
What type of cancer was Jeana Keough diagnosed with?
Jeana Keough has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. The health issue originally appeared as a persistent sore in her mouth that she initially mistook for a simple dental irritation caused by a tooth. After her daughter noticed the sore had persisted for nearly a year, medical professionals performed a biopsy to confirm the malignancy. The situation became more complex when doctors discovered the cancer had spread during a subsequent procedure to remove her lymph nodes.
How is Jeana Keough treating her tongue cancer?
Jeana Keough is currently undergoing a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy to combat her cancer. She has been navigating this intensive treatment regimen for five weeks as she battles the physical effects of the disease. These medical interventions are necessary because the cancer spread beyond the initial site during her surgical procedures. This rigorous treatment process has caused significant exhaustion and has made basic tasks like swallowing extremely difficult due to intense throat pain.
Why is Jeana Keough struggling with nutrition and hydration?
Jeana Keough is struggling with malnutrition because severe pain in her throat makes it almost impossible for her to swallow. This difficulty with swallowing prevents her from maintaining proper hydration and consuming enough nutrients to sustain her strength during treatment. The physical toll of her cancer battle is compounded by the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Managing these nutritional challenges is a critical part of her ongoing fight as she attempts to recover and heal.
What financial challenges is Jeana Keough facing during her illness?
Jeana Keough is facing a significant financial burden because her primary source of income is commission-based. Since her medical battle requires her to focus entirely on healing, she has been unable to work and earn the commissions necessary to support herself. This loss of income creates intense pressure at a time when she is already dealing with the physical and emotional stresses of cancer treatment. The combination of medical needs and lost wages has made this period particularly difficult for her family.
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📰 Source: E! News