Jeana Keough is in the middle of a crucial health battle, but hope remains her greatest anchor!
The reality star speaks on how far she has gone with her tongue cancer treatment as she remains optimistic about earning a higher chance at a cure, although a permanent shot at that remains far away.
Jeana Keough recently launched a GoFundMe to boost her finances in the face of pressing medical expenses, joining other Bravo stars like Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge who have battled cancer.
The television personality reportedly broke her silence in writing as she is unable to speak during her cancer treatment. She revealed in an email how all the treatments she has been getting since her cancer diagnosis have only put her at less than a 70 percent chance of breaking completely free.
“It’s upsetting to know that even after all this treatment, I still only have a 40 to 60 percent cure rate within the next five years. We’re just praying that I’m on the good side of that coin flip,” the reality star wrote.
She noted that while the finish line to her treatment keeps getting closer, full recovery is still a long time away and she will have the feeding tube in for two to six months.
Her treatment plan, according to her email to Page Six, includes radiation for five days a week, chemotherapy once a week, and some immunotherapy coupled with lots of bloodwork and intravenous hydration.
With a few more days of radiation to go, and a recently completed round of chemotherapy which leaves her exhausted for the rest of the week, Keough is hopeful for a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Bravo Alum Is Not Finding Her New Reality Of Being Dependent On People Easy
Keough, prior to her diagnosis and treatment, has taken immense pride in living a hyper-independent life. These days, she gets by through help from people in her life, including her kids, friends, and family, a reality she sees as very challenging.
This feeling, coupled with dealing with the effects of radiation like soreness, pain, inflammation of the tongue and throat, which has made swallowing and breathing painful, has made Keough feel like her worst days are far from over.
“I’m now like a newborn baby being fed by my caregivers every three hours. I still have nausea and vomiting because of the chemo, and that really hurts now with the feeding tube incision being so fresh,” Keough continued.
This confession came after she was admitted and operated upon for malnourishment and dehydration, which was soon worsened by a deep vein thrombosis blood clot.
The Genesis Of Jeana Keough’s Cancer Diagnosis
As shared by The Blast from the lengthy description on the GoFundMe set up for Keough, her nightmare began when she discovered a painful spot on her tongue. Fully convinced it was just a dental problem, Keough reportedly consulted her dentist, but she discovered alongside her daughter that she had been dealing with the pain for a while.
Hence, she went in for a biopsy, where it was discovered that she had squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. The reality star swiftly underwent surgery to remove the cancer and another operation to remove her lymph nodes.
Unfortunately, after the surgical procedure, it was discovered that the cancer had already spread. Since then, the family has embarked on several treatments to address the situation, although encountering some complications along the way, like a DVT clot discovered in Keough’s legs.
The reality star also suffered from another infection that caused her chemotherapy and radiation treatments to be temporarily paused. This development affected Keough in more ways than one, denying her a real meal for weeks, no thanks to the delay.
Keough’s ‘Real Housewives Of Orange County’ Bravo Family Are In Her Corner
As shared by Bravo TV, Keough’s GoFundMe was opened by her daughter Kara Keough Bosworth and was reposted by Keough’s “RHOC” co-stars Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge.
Gunvalson had urged the public to consider donating to the star’s treatment on her Instagram when she uploaded a picture of Jeana, alongside a photo of them together and another picture of them hanging out with their friends.
Gunvalson assured Keough that her one good turn over the years certainly deserved another because she has been there for people over the years. Judge equally lent her voice to garner financial support for their pal by sharing pictures of the reality star hanging out with “RHOC” alums Quinn Fry and Tammy Knickerbocker.
Andy Cohen, a member of the Bravo universe, also showed love to Keough’s family by commenting under her daughter’s Instagram post, affirming that Keough has shown kindness to so many people, which is why everyone is praying for her healing.
Keough revealed to the public that her mother has been so touched by all the good wishes and prayers she has received from people since the news of her diagnosis became public.
Jeana Keough Previously Suffered Multiple Gutwrenching Losses
Speaking of blood clots, the reality star’s ex-husband Matt Keough notably passed from pulmonary embolism about six years ago. As noted by The Blast, Keough described her ex-husband’s death as a shocking loss, especially because he had always lived a very healthy life during and after their marriage.
Keough and her ex were married for about two decades before he filed for legal separation in 2004. By 2019, the reality star announced that their divorce had been finalized after 15 years of separation and months before his shocking passing.
Prior to her ex-husband’s passing, Keough had also dealt with the loss of her newborn grandson, McCoy Casey Bosworth. According to Keough, it took her an awful lot of time to come to terms with the timing of losing a grandchild and an ex-husband in less than three weeks.
Get well soon, Jeana Keough!