Busy Philipps Reveals Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Surgery

Actress Busy Philipps has revealed that she underwent brain surgery earlier this year after doctors discovered a rare tumor during a preventative MRI.

The 47-year-old “Cougar Town” star told People that she had a full-body MRI in February 2026. The scan revealed a 2.6-centimeter mass on her brain. She later underwent surgery on March 2 to remove it.

A biopsy identified the mass as an oligodendroglioma, a rare type of tumor that develops in the brain or spinal cord. The Cleveland Clinic describes oligodendrogliomas as generally treatable, with favorable survival rates in many cases.

Philipps said she was not experiencing pain during her recovery. However, about a month after surgery, she developed a staphylococcus infection in her incision. The infection was discovered after a doctor noticed that the wound did not look right. Philipps required another procedure, called debridement, to treat the infection.

Philipps said the experience was especially difficult for her children, Birdie, 18, and Cricket, 13. She also credited her close friend Michelle Williams with helping her recognize that something had been wrong with her health. Philipps had repeatedly told Williams that her “brain feels broken.”

After the surgery, Philipps said, “My brain does not feel broken anymore.”

Reflecting on the experience, she said getting information about her health can be empowering, even when the news is frightening. “I’m grateful that I’m alive,” she told People, describing the past six months as “the weirdest” of her life.