Overview
- The family publicly disclosed the diagnosis on Sunday, July 19, when Keough’s daughter, Kara, shared that a biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue after a painful sore that lasted about a year.
- Keough has had two surgeries, including removal of the primary tumor and lymph nodes, and doctors later observed the cancer had spread.
- She is in her fifth week of combined chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy and is suffering severe side effects such as extreme fatigue, difficulty swallowing and signs of malnutrition.
- Kara launched a GoFundMe to pay for medical bills, everyday living costs, nutrition and caregiving support, and as of initial reports the campaign had raised roughly $4,700 of a $22,000 goal.
- The treatment has left Keough unable to work commission-based jobs and increased her need for daily help, and the family says they are coordinating care while balancing distance and financial strain.