Shannen Doherty Cancer Diagnosis Takes Heartbreaking Turn

In 2015, Shannen Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer, entering remission two years later. Then, in February 2020, her cancer returned and was categorized as stage four. The actress said the diagnosis changed her perspective on life. “When you ask yourself, ‘Why me? Why did I get cancer?’ and then, ‘Why did my cancer come back?’ That leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life,” she explained.

At the beginning of 2023, Shannen Doherty revealed details about undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor, offering a glimpse of the process via social media. “It was definitely one of the scariest things,” she revealed. Still, the Charmed actress remains motivated to continue working despite her illness and remains faithful due to the support from loved ones.

“My greatest memory is yet to come,” Shannen Doherty added. “I pray. I wake up and go to bed, thanking God and praying for the things that matter to me without asking for too much. It connects me to a higher power and spirituality. My faith is my mantra. I know it sounds cheesy and crazy, but you’re more aware of everything and feel so blessed,” she added.

Focusing on the future, Shannen Doherty plans to revisit significant moments in her life, including the highs and lows, through her upcoming memoir-style podcast, Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty, set to debut on December 6 on iHeartRadio.

Shannen Doherty began her career as a child actor, appearing in commercials at the age of 10. Her early television roles included appearances on series like Little House on the Prairie and Our House, which helped establish her in the industry. Doherty achieved global recognition for her role as Brenda Walsh in the popular teen drama series Beverly Hills 90210.

However, her departure from the show in 1994 was surrounded by controversy, reportedly due to conflicts with the cast and crew. From 1998 to 2001, Shannen Doherty played Prue Halliwell in the popular supernatural drama series Charmed. She left the show after the third season, citing “too much drama on the set and not enough passion for the work” as her reasons for quitting.

Additionally, there was speculation about Shannen Doherty wanting more creative freedom and input, as well as disagreements with the direction of the series and her character. The exact reason for her departure from Charmed is a combination of these factors, and no single reason has been confirmed by any of the involved parties.

While Shannen Doherty is mainly known for her television roles, the actress has also made her mark in movies. She played Heather Duke in 1988’s dark comedy Heathers, which has since become a cult classic. The film follows the lives of two teenagers, played by Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, as they navigate high school and a series of murders.

Shannen Doherty appeared in Night Shift, the 1982 comedy from director Ron Howard. She also played Rene Mosier in 1995’s Mallrats from director by Kevin Smith. In 2002, Doherty starred as Sarah Fielding in The Rendering. The story follows a woman who experiences disturbing visions that may be related to a crime.

Away from the camera, Shannen Doherty has been married three times, first to Ashley Hamilton, then to Rick Salomon, and later to Kurt Iswarienko in 2011. She also experienced some troubles, including a lawsuit from her former business manager in 2015, which the actress quietly settled in 2016. In recent years, she has been involved in advocacy work related to cancer awareness and treatment.