Overview
- Jeana Keough, 70, was publicly revealed to have squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in a GoFundMe post her daughter shared on Sunday, July 19, after a biopsy and two surgeries showed the cancer had spread to lymph nodes.
- Keough began combined chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy and has suffered severe side effects, including extreme exhaustion, pain that makes swallowing difficult, and signs of malnutrition requiring plans for a feeding tube.
- The family announced that doctors discovered a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in her leg and an infection, prompting clinicians to delay the planned G-tube procedure and temporarily pause chemo and radiation until those issues are treated.
- Her daughter Kara launched a GoFundMe to cover mounting medical and living costs because Keough’s commission-based work has been interrupted, and former RHOC colleagues and figures including Andy Cohen have donated and publicly offered support.
- Keough is an original Real Housewives of Orange County cast member who has remained connected to the franchise; the family says immediate medical priorities are stabilizing the clot and infection so cancer-directed therapy can resume as soon as it is safe.