‘Real Housewives Of Orange County’ Alum Jeana Keough, 70, Dismissed Mouth ‘Sore’ For Months. It Turned Out To Be Tongue Cancer

Bosworth shared that a few months ago, while her mother was visiting her in Florida, Keough explained how she had been dealing with a “painful spot on her tongue.”

“She assumed a tooth had been rubbing against it and had even gone to the dentist multiple times to have the tooth filed down. I asked her how long the sore had been there. She paused, thought about it, and realized it had been nearly a year,” Bosworth recounted.

“A biopsy confirmed our worst fear: squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.”

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She continued, “After surgery to remove the cancer, we were hopeful that the hardest part was behind her. But when doctors recommended a second surgery to remove lymph nodes, they discovered the cancer had spread. What we thought would be a one-time surgery became a full cancer battle.”

Keough’s treatment regime involves chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.

“The treatments are relentless. She is exhausted, struggling to stay awake, and becoming malnourished because the pain in her tongue and throat makes swallowing even the smallest bites or sips incredibly difficult. Every day is a battle just to get enough nutrition and hydration to continue treatment,” Bosworth continued, before noting how her mom’s cancer journey has brought on physical, emotional, and financial challenges.

In a health update shared on Bosworth’s Instagram page, Keough’s daughter told supporters, “It’s tough to field all the questions individually – because so many folks love and care about Mama Jeans, so updating friends and family here.

“Jeana was scheduled to get the G-tube [gastrostomy tube/feeding tube] this morning so she can get some nutrition. She hasn’t been able to eat a meal for 2 weeks, so she’s extremely depleted. We uncovered a DVT [deep vein thrombosis/ blood clot] clot in her leg, and now an infection, too. The feeding tube can’t be put directly into her stomach until there’s clarity on the infection.”

She further noted that her mom’s chemotherapy and radiation treatments have been temporarily paused as doctors work to clear the infection, but her mom remains eager to proceed with G-tube surgery and get back on track with treatment as soon as possible.

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Another Instagram post about Keough read, “She is kind to everyone—even to people who have nothing to offer her in return. She is generous to a fault. She gives people the benefit of the doubt, even when they’ve proven, over and over again, that they don’t deserve her grace.

“At Jeana’s house, ‘the more, the merrier’ isn’t just a saying—it’s how she lives. Everyone is welcome. She never guards her friendships or makes people feel like outsiders. She has a gift for making people feel seen, included, and loved.”

The sweet post concluded, “Everyone who knows her knows this: she’s almost impossibly optimistic in the face of terrifying things—wildfires, cancer, uncertainty. Yet somehow she’s always been afraid of the simplest thing: being vulnerable enough to ask for help. So I’m asking for her.

“If you’ve ever been touched by Jeana’s kindness, generosity, or friendship—or if you’d simply like to help someone who has spent her life helping others—please consider reading her story.”

Tongue Cancer: A Type of Head & Neck Cancer

According to Cedars-Sinai, several types of cancer develop in the tongue, with the most common being squamous cell carcinoma—the type Keough is battling.,

The two types of tongue cancer are:

• Cancer of the oral tongue, which consists of the front two-thirds of the tongue that you can stick out
• Cancer of the base of the tongue, the area which is the back one-third of the tongue that extends down the throat

Although some people may be diagnosed with tongue cancer and have no risk factors, Cedars-Sinai says this type of cancer is most commonly found in adults 40 years old and up. Men are also twice as likely to be diagnosed with tongue cancer.

Other risk factors include:

• Smoking [smokers are 5x more likely to develop tongue cancer than nonsmokers]
• Drinking alcohol
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

African-American men also have a greater risk than caucasians.

Tongue cancer may be hard to spot in its early stages, however it’s important to be aware of the symptoms, as catching the disease earlier will lead to an easier treatment path.

Symptoms might include:

• An unusual lump on the side of the tongue
• An ulcer-like lump, of a grayish-pink to red color
• A lump that bleeds easily when touched
• Trouble swallowing
• Voice changes
• Pain in the ear
• Pain in the throat
• Feeling of fullness in the throat

HPV and Cancer Risk: The Basics

Throat cancer is usually diagnosed through X-rays, CT scans, and PET scans. A diagnosis also often requires a biopsy.

For tongue cancer treatment, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are usually done.

It’s much more common to know someone who has a head or neck cancer, like tongue cancer, now-a-days than it was several decades ago. And that’s because of its strong connection to the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, which is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States.

“From the 1980s to the 2010s, the rate of HPV-related head and neck cancers has gone up by 300 percent,” Dr. Ted Teknos, a head and neck cancer specialist at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio, told SurvivorNet during a previous interview.

The vast majority of people in the United States — both men and women — will eventually get infected with HPV, according to Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai.

“The important thing to know about HPV is that there are many different strains, and only a couple of them tend to be more cancer-inducing,” he told SurvivorNet.

“Probably less than 1% of the population who get infected happen to have the cancer-causing virus that somehow their immune system fails to clear, and over 15 to 20 years it develops from a viral infection into a tumor, and a cancer.”

It’s unclear whether HPV alone is enough to trigger the changes in your cells that lead to head and neck cancers, or whether this happens in combination with other risk factors like smoking.

Protecting Against HPV

Nearly 80 million Americans have HPV today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It impacts men and women and won’t cause problems for most people.

However, in a small percentage of cases, it can lead to cancer.

The HPV vaccine is recommended to protect against HPV and, therefore, HPV-related cancers.

RELATED: “Breakthrough” is a film about the life of Dr. Jim Allison and his Nobel Prize-winning work in immunotherapy and its profound impact on reducing cancer mortality.

Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine that offers protection against “nine HPV types: the two low-risk HPV types that cause most genital warts, plus seven high-risk HPV types that cause most HPV-related cancer,” according to the National Cancer Institute.

The vaccine creates an immune response to HPV 16, the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers. Once children are vaccinated, they cannot be infected with that strain. For parents, the HPV vaccine enables them to protect their children from developing cancer in the future.

“The key with the vaccine is that you receive it before you have sexual encounters,” Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet.  “So that’s why these vaccines are approved for young children, ages 9, 10, 11 years old, up to age 26.”

The HPV vaccine is recommended for all male and female preteens 11 to 12 years old in two doses given between six and 12 months, according to the CDC. The series of shots can also start as young as 9.

The CDC also notes that teens and young adults through age 26 who didn’t start or finish the HPV vaccine series also need the vaccine.

Additionally, people with weakened immune systems or teens and young adults between 15 and 26 who started the series should get three doses instead of two.

Although adults up to 45 can still receive the vaccine, it’s not recommended for everyone older than 26. Still, a person older than 26 could choose to get vaccinated after talking to their doctor about possible benefits, even despite it being less effective in this age range, as more people have already been exposed to HPV by this point.

WATCH: Should children get the HPV Vaccine?

Vaccine hesitancy can impede people from getting the vaccine. The concern may come from parents who may feel the vaccine paves the way for early sexual activity. For this reason, some health practitioners are educating the public about the vaccine differently.

“I think rebranding the vaccine as a cancer vaccine, rather than an STD vaccine, is critically important,” says Dr. Teknos, who believes concerted efforts to “change the mindset around the vaccine” can make a difference.

Second Opinions on Your Cancer Diagnosis or Treatment: Do You Need One?

Once you’ve gone through all of the tests needed to diagnose your cancer and your doctor has recommended a course of action, you will likely, finally, feel a sense of resolution. But no matter how qualified and experienced the doctor who diagnosed you is, there may be a lingering feeling about getting a second opinion. It’s OK to consider your doctor’s treatment recommendations as just the first step in figuring out what to do next.

RELATE: Second (& Third) Opinions Matter When Deciding Between Surgery or Radiation

“If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care,” National Cancer Institute chief of surgery, Dr. Steven Rosenberg, previously told SurvivorNet.

“Finding a doctor who is up on the latest information is important, and it’s always important to get other opinions so that you can make the best decisions for yourself in consultation with your care providers.”

A second opinion gives you the chance to explore other therapeutic options. Another doctor may offer a new perspective on your cancer, and possibly recommend treatments that are different than what the first doctor you saw suggested.

Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions

Furthermore, getting another opinion may also help you avoid doctor biases. For example, when seeking care for cancer, some surgeons may have an affiliation with a radiation center.

“So there may be a conflict of interest if you present to a surgeon that is recommending radiation because there is some ownership of that type of facility,” Dr. Jim Hu, director of robotic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.

Other reasons to get a second opinion include:

• To see a doctor who has more experience treating your type of disease
• You have a rare disease
• There are several ways to treat your illness
• You feel like your doctor isn’t listening to you, or isn’t giving you good advice
• You have trouble understanding your doctor
• You don’t like the treatment your doctor is recommending, or you’re worried about its possible side effects
• Your insurance company wants you to get another medical opinion

Bottom line, being proactive about your health could be a matter of life or death. Learn as much as you can from as many experts as you can, so that you know that you did your best to take control of your health.

How to Seek Out Another Opinion

Depending on the cancer center you visit, the process of getting a second opinion could be streamlined. Multidisciplinary cancer centers offer a variety of interventions — surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, etc. — under one roof. There, you may be encouraged to meet with several doctors during the course of the diagnostic process.

RELATED: Famous DJ Says Her Cancer Would Have Been Found Much Earlier With Recommended Screening: ‘Finding Out ASAP Is Everything’ 

If you don’t have the benefit of being at one of those centers, ask the doctor who diagnosed you for a referral. Don’t worry about hurting your doctor’s feelings. Oncologists are used to having their patients ask for second opinions. In fact, many of them welcome it.

RELATED: Seeking Care at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

Ask an oncology social worker at your current hospital to help you navigate the process of getting a second opinion. You can also seek out another opinion on your own, by searching for cancer specialists in your area through an organization like the American Society for Clinical Oncology.

For your second opinion, consider seeing a doctor who has a different specialty than the person who first diagnosed you. If you saw an oncologist the first time, you might visit a surgeon, radiologist, or medical oncologist the second time around.

RELATED: Critical Questions. Trusted Answers. A New Wave of Cancer Patients Using SurvivorNet’s My Health AI Tools For Support

Keep in mind that you don’t need to stop at a second opinion. Provided that you have the time and financial resources, you may want to go ahead and get a third or a fourth opinion. Just don’t get so many opinions that your treatment options overwhelm you.

With each new doctor you visit, bring a copy of your:

• Pathology report from your biopsy or surgery
• Surgical report
• Imaging tests
• Treatment plan that your current doctor recommended

Remember To Ask Questions

When faced with a cancer diagnosis, it’s crucial to ask your doctor informed questions to understand your condition, treatment options, and coping strategies. These questions can serve as a starting point for your discussion with your doctor so you can feel empowered and informed as you navigate your cancer journey.

SurvivorNet’s “My Health Questions” AI tool helps patients and caregivers better understand cancer screenings and treatment options by providing clinically grounded answers and personalized questions for upcoming doctor visits.

WATCH: How One Cancer Survivor and Her Sister Used “My Health Questions” to Navigate Care

Coping With a Loved One’s Cancer Diagnosis: Prioritizing Your Mental Health

When a stressful life event occurs, like a loved one being diagnosed with cancer, Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet, “The way people respond is very variable.

“Very much consistent with how they respond to stresses and challenges in their life in general.”

Additionally, when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer and you suddenly find yourself filling the role of a caregiver, the lifestyle change can be jarring.

Caregivers are often spouses, partners, adult children, parents, or trusted friends of the person living with cancer. It’s important to remember that many people welcome the role of caregiver and the opportunity to help out someone they care about deeply, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Filling a caregiver role can be extremely stressful and caregivers often neglect their own needs, which can create a host of additional problems.

‘Disenchanted’ Star and Passionate Cancer Advocate Patrick Dempsey’s Critical Advice for Caregivers: ‘Take Care of Yourself’

And if you need help with finances, we provide resources you can consider to cope with the cancer bills. If your loved one has just been diagnosed and you are just starting your journey as a caregiver, here are the first steps you should take.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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