Busy Philipps had a surprisingly cheeky way to mark six months since her brain surgery. The actress celebrated the milestone while joking about online speculation that her health scare meant she was “dying.”
On Thursday, September 3, the 47-year-old actress shared a carousel of photos on Instagram. She also included a playful exchange with her 18-year-old daughter, Birdie, who appeared to have noticed some rather dramatic reactions online.
Busy Philipps jokes about rumors after celebrating her brain surgery milestone
Philipps began her post by celebrating the six-month mark. “YESTERDAY WAS 6 MONTHS SINCE MY BRAIN SURGERY REMOVED THAT TUMOR FROM MY BRAIN! ? ??” she wrote on Instagram. The actress then shared messages from Birdie, 18, about strangers apparently assuming the worst. “Someone on Insta asked how long you had to live,” Birdie wrote. Philipps answered, “F–k, lol that’s so insane.”
Birdie followed with, “They think ur dying queen.” Her mother responded with the perfect dose of sarcasm: “Well won’t they be pleasantly surprised??” the publication reported.
Philipps also posted a mirror selfie showing herself in a medical gown. She paired the photo with another health update, writing, “Well guess what? My mammogram was all clear too! Woo!” That made the milestone post feel less like a grim retrospective and more like a victory lap.
The update followed a major health revelation from Philipps last month. In a PEOPLE cover story, she explained that a Prenuvo scan detected a grade 2 oligodendroglioma. The malignant brain tumor was considered highly treatable. Philipps underwent surgery in March to remove the tumor. She then needed an unexpected debridement surgery the following month.
Looking back, Philipps told the publication she felt “grateful that I’m alive.” She also described the period as “the weirdest six months of my life.” Still, the actress wanted something positive to come from the experience. She hoped sharing her story would encourage others to stay proactive about their health. Philipps also urged people to trust their instincts when something feels wrong.
“We are frequently told by doctors that there is nothing to worry about [when] you kind of know that there’s something to worry about,” she said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering.”
For now, Philipps appeared more interested in celebrating being here than entertaining the internet’s worst assumptions.
