Jeana Keough was diagnosed with a rare form of tongue and has undergone two surgeries.
Showbiz
RHOCs Jeana Keough, 70, Faces Rare Cancer Diagnosis
Jeana Keough was diagnosed with a rare form of tongue cancer and has undergone two surgeries. The reality star's daughter Kara revealed that Keough, 70, had bee...
The reality star's daughter Kara revealed that Keough, 70, had been battling cancer in a GoFundMe page requesting donations to help cover her treatments.
The star, who once said she was the , was diagnosed after complaining about a sore on her tongue.
'A few months ago, while visiting Shane and me in , my mom mentioned a painful spot on her tongue,' her daughter Kara, 37, wrote.
'She assumed a tooth had been rubbing against it and had even gone to the dentist multiple times to have the tooth filed down,' she added.
She also recalled she asked her mother how long the sore had been on her tongue and bothering her, to which Keough had 'paused, thought about it, and realized it had been nearly a year.
Jeana Keough revealed she was diagnosed with tongue cancer via a GoFundMe page created by her daughter Kara
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Her 37-year-old daughter shared photos of the reality star and explained that Keough was diagnosed with cancer after finding a sore on her tongue
'A biopsy confirmed our worst fear: squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue,' she continued.
Kara also said Keough underwent two surgeries since then - one to remove the cancer and another to 'remove lymph nodes.'
However, the second surgery resulted in doctors coming back to Keough to inform her that they discovered the spread of the cancer.
Kara also said her mother has undergone two surgeries since she was diagnosed but later learned the cancer returned; pictured in November 2019
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Kara said her mother has been undergoing 'relentless' treatments. 'Jeana is now in her fifth week of chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy,' she wrote on the GoFundMe page
Because of the loss of income, she said they were struggling to pay for the cancer treatments.
Kara also said that due to the treatments, her mother has been unable to work and had to stop her commission-based job
Keough's daughter said the donations will go toward 'expenses, everyday living costs, nutrition, and the additional support she needs while undergoing treatment' and 'remind her that she is not fighting this battle alone'; pictured in June 2016
Kara said the donations will go toward 'expenses, everyday living costs, nutrition, and the additional support she needs while undergoing treatment' and 'remind her that she is not fighting this battle alone.'
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Kara organized the GoFundMe page on Sunday, and in just six hours, over $23,000 was raised for Jeana's 'ongoing need' for 'monthly support' out of a $26,000 goal.
A slew of supporters made donations, including several notable names.
Among the supporters were film producer Regina Manian, actor Mark Hammond and fellow housewives Tamra Judge and Victoria Gunvalson.
Keough has spent years in front of the camera.
As an actress, she has numerous credits under her name - including an appearance on an episode of Cheers.
Keough then became one of the first stars of The Real Housewives of Orange County in 2005.
The Bravolebrity - whose introductory catchphrases included 'Money is a girl's best friend, and I love friends' - was a member of the show's main cast from season one to five.
She returned for various appearances on the show after departing the core cast.
