LOS ANGELES — Actress and writer Busy Philipps has opened up about what she describes as the “weirdest six months” of her life, revealing that she quietly underwent two brain surgeries earlier this year after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumor.
The 47-year-old Dawson’s Creek and Girls5eva star shared her health journey in an interview with People magazine, detailing how a routine preventative scan unexpectedly saved her life.
A Chance Discovery Prompted by Grief
Philipps explained that she underwent a full-body MRI scan in February 2026, a test she nearly canceled. The appointment fell just a day after the tragic passing of her friend and Dawson’s Creek co-star, James Van Der Beek, who died from cancer. Following encouragement from her ex-husband, Marc Silverstein, she ultimately decided to keep the appointment.
While a primary doctor had initially assured her the scan was unnecessary, a second medical opinion led to the discovery of a lesion. Subsequent testing at NYU Langone revealed a grade 2 oligodendroglioma—a rare, slow-growing malignant tumor located in her right frontal lobe.
- The Shock Diagnosis: Remembering the moment she received the news, Philipps recalled hyperventilating. Her neurologist delivered the stark reality: “This is a real tumor, and it’s inside your brain. And Busy, it’s got to come out.”
- The Tumor Removal: On March 2, surgeons successfully removed the 2.6-centimeter mass during a five-hour operation.
A Complicated Recovery and Second Procedure
Although the initial tumor removal went smoothly, Philipps’ recovery hit an unexpected roadblock. During an April check-in, a dermatologist flagged an issue at her incision site, which was subsequently diagnosed as a staph infection.
The complication forced the actress back into the operating room for a second procedure to clean the wound and remove a titanium tack from her skull.
Despite the physical and emotional toll, Philipps’ neuro-oncologist, Dr. Alexandra Miller, noted that oligodendrogliomas carry a relatively favorable prognosis compared to other malignant gliomas. Because the mass was caught early and fully excised, Philipps does not currently require chemotherapy or radiation, though she will undergo routine monitoring moving forward.
A Message of Empowerment
Reflecting on her ordeal, Philipps expressed immense gratitude and urged others to trust their instincts when dealing with medical health concerns.
“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,” Philipps noted. “There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering.”
Philipps has since returned to work, recently filming the upcoming series Cupertino, and is choosing to view her brush with mortality as a profound reminder of her resilience.
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