Gina Keough, one of the OG stars The Real Housewives of Orange CountyShe was diagnosed with tongue cancer at the age of 70, her daughter confirmed.
The former Bravo star was recently diagnosed and her daughter Kara Bosworth shared the details on social media as she seeks funds to cover the costs of cancer treatment.
“A few months ago, while Shane and I were visiting Florida, my mom mentioned a sore spot on her tongue. She assumed it was a tooth rubbing against it and even went to the dentist a few times to have it filed down,” the GoFundMe page reads.
After a biopsy, doctors confirmed that Keo had cancer, and after surgery to remove it, they recommended another operation to remove the lymph nodes. It was at this point that they discovered that the cancer had spread.
“What we thought would be a one-time surgery turned into a full-on battle with cancer. Gina is now in her fifth week of chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. The treatment is relentless,” Bosworth explained. “She is exhausted, struggling to stay awake and suffering from malnutrition because the pain in her tongue and throat makes it incredibly difficult to swallow even the smallest pieces or sips.”
Because Keogh was undergoing cancer treatment, she was unable to work and this “placed a huge financial burden on her.”
“Living across the country in Florida with young children has left Shane and I feeling painfully helpless for much of this journey,” Bosworth added. “Because there are no direct flights between us, we often wished we could just be there to help with the day-to-day activities that become overwhelming during cancer treatment. Now that I’m here in Orange County and see first-hand what she faces, I understand even more the support she needs—not just while I’m here, but after I get home.”
Keogh’s daughter said all funds raised “will go directly towards expenses, daily living expenses, food and additional support she needs during treatment.” At the time of this writing, more than $15,000 had been raised out of the $22,000 goal.
Gina Keough was one of the original stars of the Bravo series. The Real Housewives of Orange County when the reality show premiered in 2006. Keogh was on the show for the first five seasons and continued to appear throughout the series. She appears in the series premiere episode. The Real Housewives of Ultimate Girls Journey: The Roaring 20thdedicated to the 20th anniversary of the franchise.