Brain tumors: Symptoms, signs and causes
Brain tumors are abnormal growths of cells in the brain. These can be benign or malignant.
As Busy Philipps continues to face health challenges, she is celebrating the progress she’s made following a rare brain tumor diagnosis.
The “Cougar Town” star, 47, shared in a Sept. 8 video posted on Instagram that a recent MRI showed “no sign of the tumor” recurring, six months after she had a 2.6-centimeter mass surgically removed from her brain.
The MRI did, however, reveal that Philipps had a sinus infection.
“Those sinuses have been out to get me since day one. … It looks painful [and] it is painful,” she said, noting she’d previously undergone sinus surgery in 2018. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, but no tumor! So I guess I’ll take a sinus infection over a brain tumor any day.”
In an interview with People magazine published Aug. 26, Philipps revealed she’d incidentally discovered the lesion on her frontal lobe in February following a Prenuvo scan – a full-body MRI billed as “proactive screening” that is not covered by insurance and costs between $1,200 to $4,000 through an annual membership.
After a follow-up MRI that focused on the abnormality, a neurologist informed her that the tumor has “got to come out,” she explained. On March 2, she underwent a roughly five-hour surgery, and a biopsy of the cells showed the growth was a grade 2 oligodendroglioma.
This is a low-grade tumor that grows slowly, according to the National Cancer Institute. Though there is no known cause, “exposure to radiation and certain gene changes” that are passed down “have been linked to a higher chance of developing oligodendrogliomas.” About 60% of people experience a seizure before receiving an oligodendroglioma diagnosis.
Early detection helped Philipps address the situation before the tumor grew to “two or three times the size” and potentially caused a seizure, Dr. John Golfinos, the actress’ neurosurgeon, told the magazine.
Philipps’ post-operation treatment plan doesn’t require chemotherapy or radiation; instead, she monitors for possible recurrence through regular scans.
The “White Chicks” actress shared her story to encourage others to listen to their instincts when it comes to health concerns because “there’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering.”