Busy Philipps Reveals She Was Diagnosed With a Rare Malignant Brain Tumor

LOS ANGELES — Actress Busy Philipps has revealed that she quietly underwent two brain surgeries earlier this year after doctors discovered a rare malignant brain tumor during a routine full-body MRI.

The 47-year-old Dawson’s Creek and Freaks and Geeks star shared her story publicly for the first time, describing the past six months as “the weirdest” period of her life and saying she feels incredibly grateful to be alive.

A Scan Changed Everything

Philipps said the tumor was discovered on February 12, 2026, during a Prenuvo full-body MRI that she had nearly canceled.

She explained that her primary care physician had previously discouraged the screening, but a conversation with her relative, physician Dr. Justin Donlan, convinced her that “knowledge is power.” Her ex-husband, Marc Silverstein, also encouraged her to keep the appointment after it was postponed from January to February.

When the scan revealed a lesion on her brain, Philipps initially texted Silverstein jokingly, believing it was probably harmless. A follow-up MRI, however, confirmed something far more serious.

A neurologist told her the mass was a real brain tumor and needed to be removed immediately.

Diagnosed With a Rare Glioma

Doctors diagnosed Philipps with a Grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare, slow-growing but malignant brain tumor measuring 2.6 centimeters.

Her neuro-oncologist, Dr. John Golfinos, said the tumor has one of the most favorable prognoses among malignant gliomas because it tends to grow slowly and was detected unusually early.

He explained that if the tumor had remained undiscovered for another year, it could have been two or three times larger and much more difficult to remove.

Two Brain Surgeries in Two Months

On March 2, Philipps underwent a five-hour brain surgery to remove the tumor.

The operation was successful, but her recovery took another unexpected turn weeks later when her dermatologist noticed signs of infection while examining the incision during a Botox appointment.

Doctors determined she had developed a staph infection, forcing her to undergo a second surgery to remove infected tissue and hardware.

Philipps admitted the second procedure was emotionally harder than the first because it made her feel as though she had returned to “square one.”

Telling Her Daughters

One of the most difficult moments came when Philipps had to tell her daughters, Birdie, 18, and Cricket, 13, about the diagnosis.

She recalled Birdie becoming overwhelmed with fear, while Cricket responded more simply by asking whether her mother was going to be okay.

Philipps repeatedly reassured her oldest daughter that she was not living in “the movie where your mom dies your senior year of high school,” promising she would survive.

“My Brain Doesn’t Feel Broken Anymore”

Looking back, Philipps believes the tumor may have been affecting her long before it was discovered.

She said she had spent years telling close friend Michelle Williams that her brain felt “broken,” struggling with emotional regulation and cognitive changes she couldn’t fully explain.

Now, following surgery, she says that feeling has disappeared.

Rather than urging everyone to undergo expensive MRI screenings, Philipps says her biggest lesson is about trusting your instincts.

“We’re often told there’s nothing to worry about,” she said. “But having information isn’t something to fear—it’s empowering.”

Today, Philipps is recovering well and will continue undergoing regular brain scans to monitor for any recurrence. For the actress, the experience has transformed an ordinary medical appointment into the reason she believes she is still alive.