Former Real Housewives of Orange County cast member Jeana Keough has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, according to her daughter, Kara Bosworth.
Bosworth shared the news on a GoFundMe page for her mother, saying Keough first noticed a painful spot on her tongue months ago after visiting family in Florida. At first, she believed a tooth may have been irritating the area and had the tooth filed down several times by a dentist.
According to Bosworth, the sore had actually been there for nearly a year before a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Keough then underwent surgery to remove the cancer, but a second procedure to remove lymph nodes revealed that the cancer had spread.
Bosworth said Keough is now in her fifth week of chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. She added that the treatments have been physically draining, making it hard for her mother to swallow and keep up with nutrition and hydration, while also creating a financial strain because Keough has been unable to work.
Bosworth also described her mother as optimistic and strong, even while dealing with cancer and other difficult circumstances, though she said Keough has struggled with asking for help.
