The actress from Beverly Hills, 90210 was first told she had breast cancer in 2015. In November 2023, she was honest with PEOPLE about her Stage 4 breast cancer, which had spread to her bones, and said she didn’t “want to die.”
“I wanna keep living.” I still love people. I have more things to make. “Hopefully, I’m not done making things better,” she told PEOPLE. “I am not finished yet.”
The actress said in April 2017 that she had gone into remission after being diagnosed with cancer in 2015. However, by 2019, the cancer had come back. Doherty told everyone the next year that she had been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 cancer. The actress then said in June 2023 that the cancer had spread to her brain and that she had surgery to remove it.
Her Instagram post in June 2023 said that the cancer had spread to her brain and that she had surgery five months before to remove a brain tumor she had named Bob.
She told PEOPLE in August 2023, “He had to be taken out and cut up to see his pathology.” “There is no doubt that it was one of the scariest things I have ever been through.”
The actress was determined to keep working even though she had the disease.
“People just think it means you can’t walk, eat, or work.” “You were sent out to pasture when you were very young and told, ‘You’re done, you’re retired.’ We’re not,” she said, adding, “We’re full of life and have such a different outlook on it.” We are people who want to work, enjoy life, and keep going.
Before she died, Doherty really wanted to bring attention to and money for cancer research. She also wanted to show that even though they have terminal cancer, people like her are still unique and have a lot to offer.
“Why me?’” After asking “Why did my cancer come back?” She said, “When you ask yourself, ‘Why am I in stage 4?’ you start to look for the bigger picture in life.”
Her honest comments were similar to what she said in an interview with Amy Robach that aired on Good Morning America in 2020. In that interview, she was also very realistic.
“I definitely have days where I say, ‘Why me?’” At the time, Doherty told Robach about how her health was getting worse. When that happens, I think, “Why not me? One more person? Not only me, but who else deserves this?’ Of course, none of us do.”
During her interview with Robach, Doherty first talked about how her breast cancer had come back as stage 4 after being in remission.
“I’m going to be promoted to stage 4 in a few days or a week.” “I’m here because my cancer came back,” Doherty said on Good Morning America. “I don’t believe I’ve thought about it. Numerous ways make it a difficult pill to swallow.
Although she got praise for being open about having cancer later in life, Doherty became famous for her role as Brenda Walsh on the first season of Beverly Hills, 90210, which started airing in October 1990.
She left the show in 1994, after the fourth season. She later played the role again in a few guest roles on the 2008 reboot of 90210.
After becoming famous on Beverly Hills, Doherty was cast in Charmed as Prue Halliwell, the witch sister who is the oldest of three. In addition to acting in the show, she also directed a few episodes. She quit at the end of the third season in 2001.
Throughout her career, Doherty worked steadily. She even tried her hand at reality TV with the short-lived show Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty and as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
In 2019, she joined the new season of Beverly Hills, 90210 on TV, where she will play the character that made her famous as an adult.
Despite saying she knew what was wrong, the actress kept her diagnosis a secret from the rest of the cast after her co-star Luke Perry died suddenly in March 2019 at age 52.
Doherty said on Good Morning America in 2020, “It’s so strange for me to be diagnosed and then someone who seemed healthy to go first.” “It was really, like, shocking.”
Doherty said that being in the Fox reboot was the “least I could do” to honor Perry. It also gave her a chance to show that she could keep working despite her health.
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“One of the reasons, along with Luke, that I did 90210 and didn’t really tell anybody [was] because I thought, people can look at that [as] people with stage 4 can work too,” said she.
The other actors on the show saw how strong she was, and Brian Austin Green told PEOPLE how much he admired her.
Austin Green said, “Shannen is definitely setting a good example and showing people that you can be a good person even when things are hard.” “Certainly she is; she’s a wonderful person and an inspiration.”
Doherty’s 2023 PEOPLE interview was the most moving because it showed how much she loved life, how thankful she was to be able to wake up and spend time with her family, friends, and dog, and how hopeful she was about the future.
She told People, “My best memory is still to come.” “I worship. Every morning and every night, I thank God and pray for the things that are important to me. It makes me feel spiritual and connected to a higher power. “Belief is my mantra.”
She said that having cancer had made her more aware of life and the spaces around her.
You feel so lucky and aware of everything, even though it sounds corny and crazy. When it comes to wanting to work, we’re the ones who are most thankful for every second, hour, and day that we get to be here.
