HEALTHBusy Philipps Says She Is 'Grateful to Be Alive' After Diagnosis of Rare Malignant Brain Tumor at 47
Busy Philipps opened up about her frightening brain tumor diagnosis.
Aug. 26 2026, Published 11:53 a.m. ET
Busy Philipps detailed a terrifying health battle that began with a routine scan and ultimately led to two brain surgeries.
The 47-year-old actress said she is "grateful to be alive" after doctors discovered a rare malignant brain tumor earlier this year.
Busy Philipps Almost Canceled the Scan That Found Her Tumor
The actress, 47, revealed doctors discovered a rare grade 2 oligodendroglioma during a full-body MRI in February.
Philipps discovered she had a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare, slow-growing tumor, during a full-body MRI on February 12, she shared with People.
The actress had initially been discouraged from getting the preventative MRI by her primary care doctor. However, Philipps later discussed the idea with her cousin's husband, Dr. Justin Donlan, who reminded her that "knowledge is power."
Philipps scheduled the scan for January, but the appointment was pushed to February.
She then considered canceling altogether before her ex-husband, Marc Silverstein, encouraged her to keep the appointment.
'I Was Hyperventilating'
Busy Philipps recalled the terrifying moment a neurologist told her the tumor was real and has 'got to come out.'
When she learned about the tumor, she texted Silverstein, "OMG I have a brain tumor."
The Cougar Town alum attempted to reassure him, writing, "It looks fine. It's probably benign. I don't know."
Unfortunately, a follow-up MRI confirmed the finding was more serious, as a neurologist told her, "This is a real tumor, and it's inside your brain. And Busy, it's got to come out."
"I was hyperventilating and trying to breathe," Philipps recalled.
She underwent a roughly five-hour operation on March 2 to remove the 2.6-centimeter mass.
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Her Recovery Wasn't Smooth Sailing
Busy Philipps needed a second surgery after developing a staph infection around the incision from her first brain operation.
While getting Botox in April, her dermatologist noticed something concerning about her surgical incision.
"She's like, 'That doesn't look right. I'm not going to touch it... Can I take a picture of it and will you send it to your surgeons right now?'" Philipps recalled.
Her doctors responded with an alarming assessment: "That doesn't look good."
The actress had developed a staphylococcus infection and required another surgery to clear it.
"The second surgery really threw me," the TV star admitted. "I just felt like I was back to square one, and I was really, really upset."
Busy Philipps Says Her 'Brain Does Not Feel Broken Anymore'
The actress said she no longer feels like her 'brain is broken.'
Before her diagnosis, Philipps had repeatedly told close friend Michelle Williams she felt off.
"She said, ‘Busy, you have been saying for the past two years, My brain feels broken,'" Phillips said. "She was right. I have. I've been saying this for the last few years. I wasn't consciously aware that anything was really wrong, but there was something that was misfiring. Like, I could not get a handle on it."
Now, she said, "My brain does not feel broken anymore."
Philipps hopes her experience encourages others to take their concerns seriously.
"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," she said. "There's nothing to be afraid of in having information. It's only empowering."
"What am I? The luckiest girl in the world?" the mother-of-two added.
