Busy Philipps has revealed that her six-month MRI showed no signs of progression after surgery to remove a brain tumour, although doctors also detected a sinus infection.
The 47-year-old actress shared the reassuring update on Instagram on Tuesday, writing: “6 month MRI done! NO signs of tumor progression!”
Philipps said the scan had also found “a clear sign of sinus infection”, which she linked to a red and painful left eye she had experienced for around a week.
“No tumour, so, I guess I’ll take a sinus infection over a brain tumour any day,” she said in a video message to followers.
The actress said she would see a sinus specialist and joked that the problem was unsurprising given her long history of sinus trouble. She previously underwent sinus surgery in 2018.
Busy Philipps’ recovery after brain tumour surgery
Philipps was diagnosed with a grade two oligodendroglioma in February after undergoing a full-body MRI. She had no obvious symptoms at the time and said the scan was inspired by something she had seen on Instagram.
The appointment had been postponed by a blizzard and eventually took place the day after the death of her former Dawson’s Creek co-star James Van Der Beek from colon cancer, aged 48.
Doctors found a lesion in Philipps’ brain and later advised that it needed to be removed. She underwent a five-hour operation in March to remove the 2.6cm tumour.
A biopsy confirmed that the growth was malignant, but her doctor described it as having the best prognosis among the malignant gliomas. Philipps has said she does not currently need chemotherapy or radiotherapy, although she will have regular scans to monitor for a possible recurrence.
Her recovery was complicated in April when she developed a staphylococcus infection in the incision and required a second operation. She later shared photographs of her bloodied hair and swollen forehead, as well as images showing her using ice to reduce the swelling while filming her new television series, Cupertino.
Philipps has also spoken about the emotional impact of the diagnosis, saying she had initially believed some extreme reactions and a feeling that her “brain feels broken” were connected to perimenopause. She said her close friend and Dawson’s Creek co-star Michelle Williams helped her recognise that the tumour may have been affecting her frontal lobe.
Marking six months since the first operation last week, Philipps also told followers that a recent mammogram had been clear. She is expected to appear in the CBS legal drama Cupertino, which is due to premiere on October 8.
