“They said it was a brain tumor, but surgery wasn’t an option”: Kim Jung-hwa opens up about husband You Eun-sung’s health battle [Health Talk]

[Financial News]  Actress Kim Jung-hwa shared an update on the health of her husband, You Eun-sung, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She said doctors had determined that surgery carried significant risks, so they are currently monitoring his condition without operating. The risks of brain tumor surgery vary depending on the tumor’s location, size and type, and some patients undergo regular tests to monitor changes in the tumor instead of having immediate surgery.
A video featuring Kim Jung-hwa was released on the YouTube channel Jjin Actresses on the 28th.
Speaking about her husband’s health, Kim Jung-hwa said, “My husband is young, but a brain tumor was discovered about three years ago. For now, he’s just keeping things as they are,” adding, “I was told that surgery would be dangerous.” She continued, “So I live praying all the time that he won’t have to undergo surgery. He’s still living without surgery. He looks fine, too.”

Kim Jung-hwa also spoke about daily life since her husband began battling the illness, saying, “I think we live day by day saying, ‘Thank you for giving our family another day together today.’”

You Eun-sung revealed in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He has reportedly continued his life while having the tumor’s condition checked regularly.
On the program that day, Kim Jung-hwa also shared the news that Agnes, from Africa, whom she first met in 2009 and took in as a foster daughter, had gotten married. Lee Kyung-jin, who appeared with her, recalled her own experience battling cancer and shared her thoughts on health and daily life.

A brain tumor is a tumor that develops in the brain or the tissues surrounding it. Treatment varies depending on the tumor’s type, location and growth rate, among other factors.
Because the brain controls many functions, including movement, sensation, language and memory, a tumor near critical nerve tissue can pose a risk of neurological damage during surgery.
According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), treatment for a brain tumor is decided based on its type, size and location, as well as the patient’s overall health. When surgery is possible, the goal is to remove the tumor while preserving normal brain function as much as possible.
However, other treatment options may be considered if the tumor is near important nerves or blood vessels, or if the risks are judged to outweigh the benefits of surgery.
In You Eun-sung’s case, Kim Jung-hwa said she had been told that surgery carried significant risks, but the tumor’s exact location, size and histological type have not been disclosed. It is therefore difficult to determine the specific reason surgery is not being performed.

For some patients with brain tumors, “active surveillance” is used: their condition is checked regularly without immediately proceeding with surgery or radiation therapy.
This does not mean leaving the tumor untreated. It is a management approach that involves continuously monitoring changes in its size and symptoms through imaging tests and neurological assessments.
The Brain Tumour Charity, a UK charity specializing in brain tumors, explains that active surveillance may be considered when a tumor is found incidentally and causes no symptoms, or when it is located somewhere that makes surgery particularly risky.
During this process, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to compare the tumor’s size and appearance. The interval between scans varies depending on the tumor’s type and growth rate, as well as the patient’s health.
The brain tumor guidelines of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also say that active surveillance without a biopsy may be considered for some lesions that imaging suggests are very low-grade tumors.
However, this approach is not suitable for every brain tumor. Tumors that are highly malignant or growing rapidly may require prompt treatment.

The fact that a tumor’s size has not changed significantly over a period of time does not mean that all risks have disappeared. Depending on where a brain tumor develops, it can cause neurological symptoms even when it is small.
The NHS lists headaches, vomiting, seizures, changes in vision or speech, difficulty walking and weakness on one side of the body among the main symptoms of brain tumors.
Headaches can occur in people with brain tumors, but not every headache means someone has a brain tumor. If the nature of a headache changes suddenly or it gradually worsens, particularly alongside neurological symptoms such as vomiting or impaired vision, the cause should be properly investigated.
If a tumor affects an area responsible for motor function, a person may experience weakness in their arms or legs or have difficulty maintaining their balance. If it develops in an area related to language, it may also cause problems with speaking or understanding others.
NICE recommends that patients with brain tumors undergo clinical assessments and imaging tests if they develop new neurological symptoms or existing symptoms change, regardless of their regular testing schedule.

MRI scans are important for monitoring the course of a brain tumor. They are used to examine brain tissue and assess the tumor’s location, size and relationship to surrounding structures in detail.
Macmillan Cancer Support, a UK cancer support organization, explains that people with brain tumors under active surveillance receive regular MRI scans and outpatient appointments to check whether their tumors are growing or changing.
If tests show that a tumor has grown or new symptoms have developed, the existing management approach can be reassessed. Depending on the patient’s condition, further treatment options such as surgery, radiation therapy or medication may be considered.
Conversely, if the tumor has not changed and neurological symptoms remain stable, monitoring can continue at the discretion of the medical team.
Macmillan Cancer Support says that active surveillance may help some patients avoid treatment side effects or delay treatment, but it is not suitable for everyone with a brain tumor.
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence also recommends that treatment and follow-up plans for brain tumors be based on the tumor’s type and grade, imaging results and the patient’s symptoms. It emphasizes that if new neurological symptoms develop during follow-up, further assessment should be carried out regardless of when the next regular test is scheduled.

[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter