• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
Grey’s Anatomy star Kate Walsh reveals ‘very subtle’ warning sign ahead of brain tumour diagnosis

Home> Entertainment> Celebrity

Published 10:10 3 Mar 2025 GMT

Grey’s Anatomy star Kate Walsh reveals ‘very subtle’ warning sign ahead of brain tumour diagnosis

Kate Walsh believes she felt 'an instinct' to see a doctor before her brain tumour diagnosis

Mia Williams

Mia Williams

Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh has opened up about the moment she was found to have a 'very sizeable brain tumour' after 'pushing' to get a diagnosis.

The 57-year-old actress, who plays Dr. Addison Montgomery in the hit ABC medical drama, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2015 after advocating for herself following a number of 'subtle symptoms'.

She recently made an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where she shared the importance of pushing for a diagnosis when you feel things aren't right, and how it has changed her approach to health.

Explaining her first symptoms, Walsh said: "It was like, 'Hey, I'm really tired'.

Advert

"And then it's like, ‘Oh, the right side of my body is dipping'."

When the star initially started to feel strange, she explained how dismissive people were of her symptoms.

"They're like, 'Oh, you're off.' I'm like, 'No'," she said.

The Grey's Anatomy star advocated for her diagnosis in 2015. (ABC)
The Grey's Anatomy star advocated for her diagnosis in 2015. (ABC)

Advert

"And then, walking the dog, I'm like, 'It must be a little bit of a windy street.’"

Trying to pin the signs on something else, she explained: "It was just sort of very subtle and then very kind of, 'Oh it's ADD. I can't really focus. Oh, I've been scrolling too much.' "That kind of stuff."

She spoke about the valuable lesson she had learned about putting difficult things off, and how important it is to stand up for yourself.

Walsh added: "I know how important it is to advocate for one's own health because people were like, 'You're just depressed.' It was right after [my TV show] Bad Judge got cancelled."

Advert

"Your show got cancelled. You're just depressed," she recalled people telling her.

"No, something's off," she responded.

She now feels 'healthy' years on from her surgery (John Lamparski/Getty Images)
She now feels 'healthy' years on from her surgery (John Lamparski/Getty Images)

The actress first spoke about her brain tumour, which was thankfully benign, in 2017 with Cosmopolitan.

Advert

Reflecting on that time in her life, she said: "I really pushed to see a neurologist. I just had an instinct.

"I had to really advocate because they don’t hand out MRIs so easily. But I got an MRI and, thank God I did, because it turned out I had a very sizeable brain tumour in my left frontal lobe."

When she received her diagnosis, the star recalled the feeling of 'leaving' her own body.

Walsh added: "My assistant had driven me there, and I had to go get him so that he could take notes because I was gone. It was never anything I would have imagined."

Advert

It was just three days after her scan that the Grey's Anatomy actress had surgery to remove the growth.

She also added that she has been 'really healthy' following her treatment.

Featured Image Credit: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Topics: Grey's Anatomy, Health, Celebrity

Mia Williams
Mia Williams

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • List of brain tumour symptoms after Grey’s Anatomy’s Kate Walsh reveals ‘very subtle’ warning sign ahead of diagnosis
  • Grey’s Anatomy star Kate Walsh shares important message after being diagnosed with brain tumour
  • All of the ‘subtle’ warning signs Grey’s Anatomy star Kate Walsh had before brain tumour diagnosis
  • Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane’s rare degenerative disease ALS explained as he reveals diagnosis

Choose your content:

14 hours ago
20 hours ago
3 days ago
  • 14 hours ago

    Sports star refused entry at Wimbledon’s royal box after breaking same strict rules as Pippa Middleton

    There are no exceptions!

    Entertainment
  • 14 hours ago

    Robert Irwin forced to apologise after leaving restaurant without paying and fans are all making the same comment

    The beloved wildlife conservationist posted an apology video

    Entertainment
  • 20 hours ago

    Justin Bieber shares four-word message for wife Hailey after heavy scrutiny but some fans are seriously confused

    Fans have speculated there could be trouble in paradise

    Entertainment
  • 3 days ago

    Doctor busts common abortion myths as Lily Allen admits she ‘can’t remember’ how many she’s had

    Lily Allen has caused controversy with her recent confession, but one doctor is keen to dispel rumours around abortions

    Entertainment