**Busy Philipps Speaks Out After Successful Brain Tumour Surgery**
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Actress Busy Philipps has shared her journey following successful surgery to remove a brain tumour, revealing that she is now feeling “good to go.” The 47-year-old star of *Cougar Town* remarked on her experience in an interview with *PEOPLE*, reflecting on the emotional moment she was informed of her diagnosis.
In February 2023, Busy underwent a full-body scan which led to the discovery of a lesion on her brain. Following this revelation, she was advised to undergo further testing, including an MRI. The results prompted Dr. Orrin Devinsky from NYU Langone to request a phone call with Philipps. She was in the midst of filming a guest appearance on the Netflix series *Bad Thoughts* at the time.
Philipps vividly remembers receiving the call from Dr. Devinsky, who delivered the news in a forthright manner. “It was like the wind sort of knocked out of me,” she explained. “He said, ‘This is a real tumour, and it’s inside your brain. Busy, it’s got to come out.’” The actress described how she struggled to comprehend this shocking news, especially as she had just been cast in the CBS drama *Cupertino*, which was set to begin production soon.
Medical experts were able to ascertain that her tumour was not glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive and incurable condition, but they could not categorise it without further examination. “I was just begging to hear it wasn’t glioblastoma,” she recalled, “but we still didn’t know exactly what it was.”
Subsequently, she spoke with neurosurgeon Dr. John Golfinos, who explained the necessity of performing brain surgery to remove the tumour. Philipps learned that a biopsy could not be conducted without first excising the tumour due to the difficulties of accessing it through a needle.
On March 2, 2023, Busy underwent surgery during which Dr. Golfinos successfully removed the tumour. Subsequent biopsy results classified it as a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare form of tumour characterised by specific genetic alterations. Fortunately, doctors determined that because the tumour had been identified early and fully removed, there would be no need for follow-up treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.
“They’re not recommending any other treatment,” Philipps confirmed. She will, however, continue monitoring her health with scans every three months for the next two years, at which point the medical team will reassess the timeline for follow-up imaging.
Reflecting on her experience, Philipps described it as transformative, despite its challenges. “This time in my life has been so weird… really enlightening and kind of magical,” she said. “I’m incredibly grateful for how everything unfolded.”
Busy Philipps intends to remain vigilant about her health while also embracing the unique insights she has gained throughout this ordeal. She concluded her interview on a positive note, expressing her relief and satisfaction with her recovery.
For those who wish to know more about her journey, the full video interview is available on the *PEOPLE* app, and further details can be found in the latest edition of *PEOPLE*, set to hit newsstands on Friday.