Vicki Gunvalson Shares Update on Jeana Keough’s Tongue Cancer Battle

Vicki Gunvalson Shares New Details on Jeana Keough’s Cancer Treatment

Jeana Keough is continuing an intensive course of treatment for tongue cancer, with longtime friend Vicki Gunvalson offering a fresh update on the former Real Housewives of Orange County star’s condition.

During the Sunday, August 9, broadcast of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Gunvalson, 64, spoke about what Keough, 70, has been facing.

“She’s going through it,” Gunvalson said, noting that her friend has been receiving chemotherapy and radiation.

Her comments followed an earlier show of support on July 20, when Gunvalson used Instagram to draw attention to a GoFundMe established to assist with Keough’s medical expenses.

The diagnosis was first made public in July by Jeana’s daughter, Kara Keough. Kara explained that her mother had dealt with a painful area on her tongue for close to a year. At first, Jeana suspected irritation from a tooth and made repeated dental visits before the underlying problem was discovered.

Doctors diagnosed her with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Surgery was performed to remove the cancer, but further treatment became necessary after another operation involving her lymph nodes showed that the disease had spread.

Kara, whose brother is Shane Keough, provided another health update on Thursday, August 6. She confirmed that Jeana had finished radiation the previous day and said the period immediately afterward was expected to be especially demanding because of the cumulative impact of radiation and chemotherapy.

Treatment has also brought significant side effects. Kara described burns affecting the skin around her mother’s neck, along with nausea, vomiting and severe discomfort. A feeding tube has helped Jeana maintain her weight, while pain control has remained complicated because she has chosen not to use narcotics.

Jeana and Gunvalson were among the original personalities who helped establish RHOC when the Bravo franchise debuted in 2006. Tamra Judge, another longtime Orange County cast member, and Real Housewives of New York City alum Jill Zarin have also been associated with public support for Jeana during her illness.