Former “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Jeana Keough is facing a difficult recovery from tongue cancer, with her daughter revealing that the 71-year-old reality television personality is still unable to eat normally and relies on a feeding tube for most of her nutrition.
Kara Bosworth, 37, shared the emotional update in an interview published Wednesday, October 21, explaining that her mother’s health struggles have continued despite months of intensive cancer treatment.
“Mom’s struggling,” Bosworth told Page Six after spending a week visiting Keough in Southern California.
According to Bosworth, her mother can manage only a few bites of food before becoming frustrated by the difficulty of swallowing and her diminished sense of taste.
As a result, Keough continues receiving most of her nutrition through a feeding tube, which doctors placed earlier this year after she experienced severe weight loss and difficulty eating.
The former Bravo star is also attending speech and swallowing therapy twice a week in hopes of regaining some of the abilities affected by her illness and treatment.
But Bosworth acknowledged that her mother still faces a difficult road ahead.
The update comes three months after Keough publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, a type of cancer that develops in the cells lining the mouth.
Her health battle began in 2025 when she noticed a persistent sore on her tongue.
Keough initially believed the irritation was caused by a sharp tooth, an explanation she said was supported by her longtime dentist.
According to the family, she returned to the dentist several times to have the tooth adjusted, but the sore failed to heal.
Eventually, Bosworth encouraged her mother to seek another medical opinion.
An ear, nose and throat specialist examined the area and ordered a biopsy, which confirmed the cancer diagnosis.
Keough subsequently underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tissue from her tongue. Doctors later discovered that the disease had spread to lymph nodes in her neck, requiring another procedure.
She then began an intensive treatment program involving chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy.
Although her family hoped the treatments would control the disease, the physical toll proved severe.
Keough developed significant pain in her mouth and throat, making eating, drinking and even speaking difficult.
In July, Bosworth revealed that her mother had been hospitalized because of dehydration and malnutrition.
Doctors also discovered a deep vein thrombosis, a potentially dangerous blood clot, in one of her legs, along with an infection that required additional treatment.
The complications left Keough physically exhausted and dependent on family members for assistance with everyday activities.
By early August, she had completed chemotherapy and radiation, giving her loved ones hope that she could begin recovering from the most difficult phase of treatment.
However, more than two months later, many of the painful effects remain.
Bosworth said her mother continues sleeping for extended periods and experiences frequent coughing episodes that sometimes cause vomiting.
The daughter also revealed that Keough has been struggling emotionally with the consequences of her treatment.
“I think she just wishes she didn’t do any treatment,” Bosworth said, explaining that the prolonged recovery has been especially difficult for her mother.
Her comments reflect how challenging the recovery has become, although Keough herself has not publicly announced any decision to abandon medical care.
Head and neck cancer treatments can affect swallowing, speech and taste, sometimes requiring months of rehabilitation even after active treatment has ended.
Radiation and surgery can also cause changes to the muscles and tissues involved in eating, which is why specialized swallowing therapy often becomes an important part of recovery.
For Keough, the difficulties are particularly frustrating because she had hoped to regain her strength once chemotherapy and radiation were completed.
In an earlier interview, the reality star said doctors had given her an estimated 40% to 60% chance of being cured within five years, based on her individual medical circumstances.
That estimate was shared by Keough and her family, not independently confirmed through medical records, and does not establish her current prognosis.
Keough became a familiar face to reality television audiences when “The Real Housewives of Orange County” premiered on Bravo in 2006.
As one of the show’s original cast members, she appeared alongside Vicki Gunvalson, Lauri Peterson, Jo De La Rosa and Kimberly Bryant.
Her family life, real estate career and relationships were central parts of the series during its early seasons.
Keough remained a full-time cast member through Season 5 before making occasional guest appearances in later years.
Since her diagnosis became public, former castmates and fans have rallied around her family.
Gunvalson has been especially vocal in offering support, previously asking followers to keep Keough in their prayers as she underwent treatment.
Meanwhile, Bosworth and her brothers, Shane and Colton, have helped coordinate their mother’s care while balancing their own families and responsibilities.
The family also established a fundraising campaign to assist with medical expenses and the financial strain caused by Keough’s inability to work during treatment.
Despite the difficult update, Bosworth said her mother is continuing rehabilitation and remains under medical care.
For now, the family’s focus is on helping Keough regain her strength, improve her ability to eat and navigate what has become a longer and more challenging recovery than they initially anticipated.