Busy Philipps, known for her roles in television series such as *Dawson’s Creek*, *Freaks and Geeks*, and *Cougar Town*, has disclosed that she underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour. The 47-year-old actor announced the diagnosis shortly after the passing of her former *Dawson’s Creek* co-star James Van Der Beek, who died in February at age 48 from bowel cancer.

Philipps, who played Audrey Liddell opposite Van Der Beek, revealed the discovery came following a period she described as the “weirdest six months” of her life. Despite not exhibiting typical symptoms such as seizures, Philipps felt compelled to seek medical evaluation after initially being reassured by her doctor that a scan was unnecessary. A subsequent whole-body MRI in February revealed a rare, low-grade tumour known as a grade 2 oligodendroglioma.

In March, Philipps underwent a five-hour surgery during which doctors removed a 2.6-centimeter mass from her brain. She recalled feeling uncertain about the scan but emphasized the importance of seeking information despite medical reassurances. “There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering,” she said.

Over the previous two years, Philipps had experienced episodes she described as her brain “feeling broken,” which she initially attributed to perimenopause. Her doctor was unable to determine whether these symptoms were related to the tumour. After surgery, Philipps reported a sense of clarity, saying, “My brain does not feel broken any more.”

The decision to proceed with the scan was influenced by a conversation with her ex-husband, filmmaker Marc Silverstein. This occurred shortly after Van Der Beek’s death and just before an audition for a role in the upcoming legal drama *Cupertino*. Silverstein encouraged her to go through with the scan as a tribute to her late friend.

Upon receiving the diagnosis from neurologist Dr. Orrin Devlinsky, Philipps described feeling overwhelmed and trying to control her breathing. She returned home two days after surgery with over 40 surgical staples in her forehead and reported minimal pain during her recovery. Friends and colleagues, including *Dawson’s Creek* co-star Michelle Williams, supported her with meals and well wishes.

Shortly after beginning work on *Cupertino* in her role as Natalia Boutella, Philipps contracted a staphylococcus infection at her surgical site, which required a secondary procedure for debridement. Despite these complications, she remains positive about her prognosis and expressed gratitude that the tumour was detected early. “What am I? The luckiest girl in the world?” she said.