Jeana Keough, OG Real Housewife, Faces Tongue Cancer at 70

Who Is Jeana Keough?

Jeana Keough is one of the original stars of the TV show The Real Housewives of Orange County. Think of her as one of the very first cast members when the show started.

• The show is on a TV channel called Bravo.
• It first aired in 2006.
• Jeana was in the first five seasons.
• She has popped up in later seasons too.
• She is also in the first episode of a special show called The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th, which celebrates 20 years of the series.

What Happened?

Jeana, who is now 70 years old, has been diagnosed with tongue cancer. Her daughter, Kara Bosworth, shared this news with everyone.

Important: Tongue cancer means there are sick cells growing in her tongue that need medical treatment.

How It Started

A few months ago, Jeana was visiting her daughter Kara and Kara’s husband Shane in Florida. Here is what happened step by step:

1. Jeana noticed a painful spot on her tongue.
2. She thought a tooth was rubbing on it.
3. She went to the dentist several times to smooth the tooth down.
4. The pain did not go away.

The Diagnosis and Treatment

After the painful spot did not get better, doctors did a biopsy (a small test where they take a tiny piece to look at under a microscope). Here is what they found and did:

• The biopsy showed Jeana had cancer.
• Doctors did surgery to remove the cancer.
• They said she needed a second surgery to take out lymph nodes (small bean-shaped filters in your body that help fight sickness).
• During that, they saw the cancer had spread (moved to other places).

Kara explained on a fundraiser page:

“What we thought would be a one-time surgery became a full cancer battle.”

Now Jeana is going through:

• Chemotherapy (strong medicine to kill cancer cells)
• Radiation (energy beams to kill cancer cells)
• Immunotherapy (help for the body’s own defense system to fight cancer)

She is in her fifth week of these treatments. They are very tough.

• She is super tired and can barely stay awake.
• She is not getting enough food because her tongue and throat hurt too much to swallow.

Money Troubles

Because Jeana is getting treatment, she cannot work. This has made money very tight.

• Her daughter says it created “an enormous financial burden.”
• That means it is really hard to pay for everything.

How the Family Is Helping

Kara lives far away in Florida with young kids. She said:

• No direct flights made it hard to be there.
• She felt helpless watching from far away.
• Now she is in Orange County (where Jeana is) and sees how much help Jeana needs.
• Jeana needs support not just now, but after Kara goes home.

The Fundraiser

Kara set up a GoFundMe (a website where people donate money to help).

• All money goes to: treatment bills, everyday living costs, food/nutrition, and extra help.
• Goal: $22,000
• Raised so far: over $15,000

Important: The fundraiser is to help Jeana pay for life and care while she fights cancer.

Summary

Jeana Keough, a 70-year-old original Real Housewives of Orange County star, has tongue cancer that spread after surgery. She is doing weeks of hard treatment and cannot work, so her daughter started a fundraiser that has passed $15K of a $22K goal to cover costs.

FAQ

Q: What is tongue cancer?
A: It is when unhealthy cells grow on the tongue and need doctors to remove or treat them.

Q: Who told the public about Jeana’s cancer?
A: Her daughter, Kara Bosworth, shared it on social media and a GoFundMe page.

Q: Why does Jeana need money from others?
A: She can’t work during treatment, and the costs for living and care are too big for her alone.

Q: Was Jeana on the show recently?
A: Yes, she is in the premiere of the 20th-anniversary special Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th.