Jeana Keough's daughter, Kara Keough-Bosworth, recently provided a poignant update on her mother's ongoing battle with tongue cancer. According to Kara, Jeana is struggling with intense treatments and their side effects, leaving many questioning whether she made the right decision in pursuing aggressive care.

Jeana's Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment History

Jeana, who appeared on the first five seasons of The Real Housewives of Orange County, confirmed her diagnosis in July. She underwent extensive procedures, including tongue dissection, surgery to insert a feeding tube, a neck dissection to remove dozens of nodes, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Despite a reported 40 to 60 percent cure rate within five years, Jeana has experienced malnourishment and dehydration due to her inability to consume food orally except for occasional bites.

Kara expressed her concern about her mother's condition during a recent visit to Southern California. "Mom's struggling," she told Page Six. "She's still not getting nutrition orally except maybe a few bites and then she gets frustrated with the effort and the lack of taste." Kara emphasized that her mother relies heavily on her feeding tube as her primary source of nutrition.

Regrets Over Aggressive Treatment

According to Kara, Jeana feels a significant amount of regret regarding the impacts of her treatment. "I think she just wishes she didn't do any treatment," Kara continued. "[It's been] very hard. She still is sleeping a lot and having a lot of coughing fits that cause her to vomit. She's doing twice weekly speech and swallow therapy, but we still have a long way to go."

Jeana was diagnosed after experiencing symptoms last year, initially attributed by her dentist to an injury from a jagged tooth that needed filing. However, further investigation revealed the presence of cancer, prompting Jeana to undergo more intensive treatment. Her siblings, Shane Keough and Colton Keough, also feel that their mother should have been diagnosed earlier.

Timeline of Jeana's Health Issues

October 2026: Kara shares an update on Jeana's condition, revealing that her mother remains reliant on a feeding tube. Last year: Jeana begins experiencing health issues related to a painful sore on her tongue, which her dentist initially thought was minor.

Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the current challenges Jeana faces in her cancer treatment? Jeana struggles with intense treatments and their side effects, making it difficult for her to consume food orally or maintain adequate nutrition.

### How did Jeana's diagnosis come about? After experiencing a painful sore on her tongue, Jeana scheduled a biopsy, leading to the discovery of tongue cancer.

### What role does a feeding tube play in Jeana's treatment plan? A feeding tube serves as Jeana's primary source of nutrition, given her difficulty consuming food orally due to treatment side effects.

### Will Jeana be able to recover from her cancer treatment? Despite experiencing some setbacks, Jeana's medical team reports a 40 to 60 percent chance of recovery within five years.