Busy Philipps reveals brain tumour diagnosis: ‘I’m grateful to be alive’
Actor Busy Philipps has publicly shared her diagnosis and successful surgery for a rare, slow-growing brain tumor. She emphasized the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare after experiencing symptoms she initially attributed to perimenopause.
Why it matters
The story highlights the importance of patient persistence in medical diagnostics and raises awareness about rare brain tumors.
Busy Philipps in December 2025. The actor has revealed she had a brain tumour removed in March. Photograph: John Nacion/Variety/Getty Images Busy Philipps in December 2025. The actor has revealed she had a brain tumour removed in March. Photograph: John Nacion/Variety/Getty Images Television Busy Philipps reveals brain tumour diagnosis: ‘I’m grateful to be alive’ Actor says she had the ‘weirdest six months of my life’, after being diagnosed days after her Dawson’s Creek co-star James Van Der Beek died of cancer
Prefer the Guardian on Google Busy Philipps has revealed she had a brain tumour removed, which was diagnosed shortly after her Dawson’s Creek co-star James Van Der Beek died from bowel cancer.
The 47-year-old, born Elizabeth Philipps, starred in the hit US teen drama as Audrey Liddell opposite Van Der Beek, who died in February aged 48 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
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