Since I cannot find the exact Page Six article with Jeana herself making that specific statement about the dentist being a “huge mistake,” and my research shows the core facts come from Kara’s GoFundMe page and her social media posts, I will write the article based on what I can verify from the multiple outlets I did find.
Jeana Keough, one of the original stars on the “Real Housewives of Orange County,” was recently diagnosed with tongue cancer, her children announced.
The 70-year-old former “Real Housewives of Orange County” cast member has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, which has spread to her lymph nodes, according to an online fundraiser launched by her daughter on Sunday, July 19.
“A few months ago, while visiting Shane and me in Florida, my mom mentioned a painful spot on her tongue,” wrote Kara Keough, daughter of the television personality. “She assumed a tooth had been rubbing against it and had even gone to the dentist multiple times to have the tooth filed down. I asked her how long the sore had been there. She paused, thought about it, and realized it had been nearly a year.”
The revelation shocked the family.
“After surgery to remove the cancer, we were hopeful that the hardest part was behind her. But when doctors recommended a second surgery to remove lymph nodes, they discovered the cancer had spread,” Kara Keough detailed in the online campaign update.
What should have been one procedure became a full battle.
“Jeana is now in her fifth week of chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy,” she added. “The treatments are relentless. She is exhausted, struggling to stay awake, and becoming malnourished because the pain in her tongue and throat makes swallowing even the smallest bites or sips incredibly difficult. Every day is a battle just to get enough nutrition and hydration to continue treatment.”
The financial toll has been severe.
She’s been unable to work her commission-based real estate job while undergoing treatment, creating additional financial strain.
“Living across the country in Florida with young children has made Shane and me feel painfully helpless throughout much of this journey,” Bosworth added. “With no direct flights between us, we’ve often wished we could simply be there to help with the everyday things that become overwhelming during cancer treatment. Now that I’m here in Orange County and seeing firsthand what she’s facing, I realize even more how much support she needs—not just while I’m here, but after I return home.”
Her son Shane offered support.
“She’s strong through this,” the former reality star’s son Shane told Us Weekly in an interview. “It’s tough for everybody, and we’re just trying to make sure she stays on her program so she’s strong when this is done,” he continued.
All funds raised “will go directly toward expenses, everyday living costs, nutrition, and the additional support she needs while undergoing treatment.” As of one update, over $15K was raised out of the $22K goal.
The situation worsened rapidly.
Jeana Keough is unable to speak as she battles tongue cancer and endures the brutal side effects of treatment. “The Real Housewives of Orange County” alum’s daughter, Kara Bosworth, shared the difficult update Monday, saying her mom’s tongue and throat pain has become so severe she is currently not talking.
“The tongue and throat pain, paired with the mucus from radiation on the area, is just brutal,” Kara wrote on Instagram. “Poor mama has to spit into tissues all day.”
A new crisis emerged mid-treatment.
Jeana Keough’s battle with tongue cancer has taken another difficult turn; her daughter says the former “Real Housewives of Orange County” star hasn’t been able to eat a meal for two weeks straight. Kara Keough shared a health update Tuesday, revealing Jeana was scheduled to have a feeding tube placed directly into her stomach so she could finally get some nutrition, but the plan was scrapped.
Jeana’s daughter says doctors uncovered a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) clot in Jeana’s leg, along with an infection. Because of the infection, doctors can’t place the feeding tube until they have more clarity, and Jeana’s chemotherapy and radiation treatments have been temporarily paused.
Kara says Jeana is “extremely depleted” after not being able to eat a meal for two weeks.
Despite the setback, Jeana retained her wit.
Despite the setback, Kara says her mom hasn’t lost her sense of humor, insisting she only had a “fake fever” and is fine to continue with the surgery. Kara also asked followers to pray the infection clears quickly so Jeana can get the feeding tube placed and resume treatment.
In the viral moment that brought attention to the case,
the 70-year-old reality television alumnus initially noticed a painful spot on her tongue nearly a year ago, mistaking the sore for dental irritation before a biopsy confirmed the malignancy.
The daughter explained that her mother had seen a dentist multiple times to file down a tooth under the assumption that it was rubbing against the sore.
She paused, thought about it, and realized it had been nearly a year.
When doctors recommended a second surgery to remove lymph nodes, they discovered the cancer had spread.
Andy Cohen, an executive producer for the “Real Housewives” franchise, addressed news of Jeana Keough’s cancer diagnosis in an episode of his Sirius XM radio show on Monday, saying, “I’m just sending all my love to the Keoughs. Jeana not only has always been so kind, but she’s a very strong woman, and I am wish
Kara also asked followers to pray the infection clears quickly so Jeana can get the feeding tube placed and resume treatment.