Shannen Doherty Reveals Cancer Is Now Spreading To Her Brain
Shannen Doherty shares a look into her battle with cancer as the disease spreads to her brain.
Fans of Shannen Doherty got a grave announcement Tuesday. The 90210 star revealed in a series of Instagram posts that, sadly, the breast cancer she has been fighting for years has spread to her brain. The actress admitted that she’s known about the cancer spreading since the beginning of the year and has been receiving treatment since January 12, 2023.
Shannen Doherty shared a pair of heartwrenching videos that show her preparing for and then receiving radiation treatment. The first video shows the star getting fitted for a special mask that’s required for cranial radiation treatment. The anxiety on the 52-year-old face is palpable as doctors force a sheet of what looks like adhesive plastic over her face leaving only a space for her eyes and nose.
A doctor can be heard telling Doherty to breathe through her nose as another doctor puts a wooden tongue depressor between her lips and commands her to bite down. The nightmare scenario is made even worse as medical personnel bolt the mask to the star’s face like some kind of Frankenstein head rig. The doctors ask Shannen for a thumbs up before placing her in the MRI behind her, and you can see Doherty’s hesitation before she finally musters up the strength to raise her thumb.
The second video shows Shannen Doherty, with tears in her eyes, receiving the radiation treatment. The star lays helpless as a giant machine rotates around her head, bathing her in an eerie red light. “My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic,” the Tennessee native wrote under the video. “The turmoil….. the timing of it all…. This is what cancer can look like.”
Shannen Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. The Charmed star underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as a mastectomy to combat the disease. In 2017 the actress announced that her cancer was in remission, but sadly that diagnosis wouldn’t last.
In 2020 Shannen Doherty told the world that her cancer was back and had reached stage four. Now with this newest revelation, the star has admitted what fans have suspected for a while now—her cancer is terminal.
Doherty has been candid about her personal fight with cancer since the beginning. Shannen hasn’t been shy about posting pictures of herself after chemotherapy and otherwise documenting her journey. The star has even used her platform as a Hollywood actress to encourage people to get mammograms and regular checkups in order to catch any potential problems early on.
Shannen Doherty’s frank and honest approach to cancer resembles Tom Green’s battle with testicular cancer 23 years ago. The Canadian funnyman filmed the operation where his cancer was removed—it’s available to watch on Green’s YouTube channel—and, much like Doherty, encouraged others to check themselves regularly. Sadly, Shannen’s cancer nightmare won’t have the happy ending Tom’s did.
Famous friends of the actress left heartfelt comments on Doherty’s Instagram post. Longtime friend and Cruel Intentions star Selma Blair wished for Shannen to find peace in the “terror moments” and reminded her friend how much she loved her. Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar wrote simply that Doherty was a “warrior.
Warrior might be the most accurate word to describe Shannen Doherty in her current state. Despite receiving news that would reduce most people to a blubbering mess, Doherty has resolved to continue fighting bravely no matter the odds. A fight she will continue until the very end.
