Busy Philipps, known for her roles in 'Dawson’s Creek' and 'Cougar Town,' has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare malignant brain tumor.
She received the diagnosis on February 12, the day after her 'Dawson’s' co-star James Van Der Beek died of cancer. The actress had to undergo surgery twice in what she described to People on August 26 as the "weirdest six months of my life."
Philipps dubbed herself "the luckiest girl in the world," and concluded: "I’m grateful that I’m alive."
Indeed, brain cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the disease. It is the sixth deadliest cancer in the United States, with a survival rate of only 33.8%. Fortunately, not all brain tumors are malignant, and if a tumor is cancerous, early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes. However, all brain tumors are potentially dangerous because of their size and location.
Click on to learn more about this disease, how to identify the symptoms, and the treatment options available.