Busy Phillips Announces Successful Removal of Grade 2 Brain Tumour After Prompt Diagnosis

Busy Philipps has disclosed that she underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour, a diagnosis that came shortly after her Dawson’s Creek co‑star James Van Der Beek died from bowel cancer.

At age 47, Elizabeth “Busy” Philipps portrayed Audrey Liddell opposite Van Der Beek in the popular teen series; Van Der Beek passed away in February at 48 following a bowel‑cancer diagnosis.

In a recent interview with People, the actress said she feels “grateful” to be alive after what she described as the “weirdest six months of my life.”

Known for her roles in Freaks and Geeks, Girls5eva and Cougar Town, Philipps reported that she exhibited no overt symptoms such as seizures. Despite her doctor’s reassurance that a scan was unnecessary, she insisted on pursuing one.

After seeking a second opinion months later, she underwent a whole‑body MRI in February, which uncovered a grade 2 oligodendroglioma—a rare, slow‑growing tumour.

In March, a five‑hour operation removed a 2.6 cm mass from her brain.

Reflecting in People, Philipps said, “I didn’t know why I wanted that scan except that I just did.”

“We are often told by doctors that there is nothing to worry about when you kind of know there’s something to worry about. There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering.”

Philipps noted that over the past two years she had told friends her “brain feels broken” and attributed certain behaviours to perimenopause.

Her physician was unable to confirm whether the symptoms were linked to the tumour.

She added, “I wasn’t consciously aware that anything was really wrong, but there was something misfiring. Like, I could not get a handle on it. [And now] my brain does not feel broken any more.”

Philipps considered cancelling the scan with her ex‑husband, filmmaker Marc Silverstein, as it occurred days after the death of her friend and former co‑star Van Der Beek and just before an audition for a role in the forthcoming legal drama Cupertino.

She recounted, “He’s like, ‘Maybe it’s the best thing you could do for your friend this morning. Go get that scan.’”

Upon hearing the diagnosis from neurologist Dr. Orrin Devinsky, Philipps said she was “hyperventilating and trying to breathe.”

Two days post‑surgery, she was back at home recuperating, reporting that she “wasn’t in pain at all” despite having more than 40 surgical staples in her forehead.

Among those sending wishes for a swift recovery was Dawson’s Creek co‑star Michelle Williams, who Philipps says arranged “delicious” food service for her.

Philipps soon began her “dream job” portraying Natalia Boutella in Cupertino, but shortly after filming began she developed a staphylococcus infection in the incision, requiring additional debridement surgery.

Despite the complication, she expressed gratitude that the tumour was detected early, remarking, “What am I? The luckiest girl in the world?”

Source link