Former Real Housewives of Orange County star Jeana Keough has been diagnosed with tongue cancer at age 70, her daughter revealed.
Keough's daughter, Kara Bosworth, shared the diagnosis on a GoFundMe page created to help cover treatment expenses, explaining that her mother had repeatedly visited the dentist to have a tooth filed down because she thought it was causing a painful sore on her tongue.
"She assumed a tooth had been rubbing against it [her tongue], but after living with the sore for nearly a year, a biopsy confirmed our worst fear: squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue," Bosworth wrote.
Keough initially underwent surgery to remove the tumor, but after doctors recommended a second operation to remove lymph nodes, they discovered the cancer had spread.
The reality show alum is now on her fifth week of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.
According to her daughter, the treatments have left her exhausted and struggling to eat and drink because of severe pain affecting her tongue and throat, leading to malnutrition.
Mouth sores, tongue pain, or ulcers that fail to heal within two weeks should be evaluated by a healthcare professional, as they may be signs of oral cancer rather than a routine dental problem.
When Is a Mouth Sore More Than a Dental Issue?
Most mouth ulcers heal on their own within one to two weeks. However, sores that persist, repeatedly return, or continue to worsen warrant medical evaluation.
Other possible warning signs of tongue or oral cancer include:
- Persistent tongue or mouth pain
- A sore throat that doesn't go away
- A sensation that something is stuck in the throat
- Numbness in the mouth or tongue
- Pain or difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving the jaw or tongue
- Swelling of the jaw
- White or red patches inside the mouth
- Persistent bleeding or numbness
- Unexplained changes in the voice or hoarseness
Because these symptoms can resemble common conditions such as canker sores, dental irritation, or infections, many patients delay seeking medical care.
Who Is Most at Risk?
The majority of tongue cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which develop in the thin cells lining the mouth and throat.
Several factors increase the risk of developing oral cancer, including:
- Tobacco use, including cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV-16
- Older age
- Prolonged sun exposure for cancers affecting the lips
- A weakened immune system
While smoking and alcohol remain major risk factors, HPV-related oral cancers have increased in recent years, particularly among younger adults who have never smoked.
How Is Tongue Cancer Treated?
The course of treatment for tongue cancer depends on the size of the tumor, whether it has spread, and the patient's overall health.
Early-stage cancers are often treated with surgery alone. If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or carries a higher risk of recurrence, doctors may recommend radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy, either alone or in combination.
Advanced tongue cancers can significantly affect speech, swallowing and nutrition because treatment may involve removing portions of the tongue or exposing the mouth and throat to radiation.
Patients frequently require nutritional support, speech therapy, and swallowing rehabilitation during recovery.
Why Early Detection Matters
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cavity cancers are far more treatable when diagnosed before they spread to lymph nodes or distant organs.
Experts recommend seeking medical or dental evaluation for any mouth sore, ulcer, or tongue lesion that does not heal within two weeks, particularly if it is painful, enlarging, or associated with difficulty swallowing or speaking.
Keough's experience serves as a reminder that symptoms easily dismissed as minor irritation can sometimes signal a much more serious condition. Early evaluation and biopsy of persistent oral lesions remain among the best tools for improving outcomes in tongue cancer.
