Overview
- Keough, 70 and an original Real Housewives of Orange County cast member, reported a painful tongue sore that she and doctors first misattributed before a biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma.
- After an initial operation to remove the tumor, surgeons removed lymph nodes and found the cancer had spread, prompting more aggressive treatment.
- She is now in her fifth week of combined chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy and is experiencing extreme fatigue and severe pain that have made swallowing difficult and contributed to malnutrition.
- Her daughter, Kara Keough Bosworth, traveled from Florida to Orange County and set up a GoFundMe to cover treatment, daily living costs and nutrition, with the campaign receiving several thousand dollars in early donations.
- The family says loss of income from Keough’s commission-based work has created a major financial strain and they plan to provide in-person and ongoing care while media and fans respond with messages of support.