An Army of Support While Living with Cancer
- Actress and breast cancer fighter Shannen Doherty, 51, posted a serene selfie of herself on the beach.
- The Malibu-based TV star is currently fighting metastatic breast cancer; Doherty was first diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and beat the disease after treatment, but it recurred as stage 4 in 2019.
- Support and self-love through cancer is an important part of the journey, particularly as you experience physical changes that may accompany some treatments, like surgery and chemotherapy.
The Malibu residentwho has been married to celebrity photographer Kurt Iswarienko, 47, since 2011posted a recent selfie looking relaxed at the beach in sunglasses. “Current situation,” she wrote with a soft, close-mouthed smile.
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Sharing your cancer journey at first can be quite daunting, especially on social media, though people in the cancer community often wind up realizing how comforting it truly can be to have an army of supporters virtually by your side. On top of having supportive friends and family, it can feel like quite a blessing, especially for those who feel they do not have close friends or family. Nine times out of ten, there are people out there who are ready to embrace you and lift you up along the way.
Dohery recently posted a pic with BFFS Roma Downey, wife of Robert Downey Jr., and top Los Angeles real estate broker, Chris Cortazzo.
“I love these humans so much,” Doherty shared. “They bring me light in darkness, they engage in critical conversations without holding back. They are filled with faith and that lifts me up and motivates me. ”
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Shannen's Breast Cancer Battle
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 after finding a lump in her breast which turned out to be cancerous. She had hormone therapy to fight her cancer, but it was ineffective and the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.
Doherty underwent a single mastectomy and also had chemotherapy and radiation. After going into remission, she announced in February 2020 that her cancer returned, and this time it had spread to other parts of her body.
Surgery, like the kind Doherty had (a single mastectomy), is a common treatment path for many people fighting breast cancer.
An Overview of Treatment Options for Advanced Breast Cancer
In the current environment, it is possible for women with later stage breast cancer to do very well for long periods of time. There are so many options, both new and old, to treat metastatic breast cancer.
Screening for Cancer in the Breast
Mammograms are the screening tool for detecting breast cancer and early signs of cancer in the breast tissue. When it comes to breast cancer, mammograms save lives. Early detection is critically important and it can mean broader treatment options as well. Many experts say women with an average risk of breast cancer should get mammograms annually starting at 35-40, or earlier, depending on your family history of the disease.
For women like this with an elevated risk of breast cancerwhether they either have a history of breast cancer in the family, or they have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation should speak with their doctor (or two!) and determine what age is best to start this life-saving screening.
While getting a mammogram, ask about dense breasts, which may obscure cancer. The technician will be able to do determine whether or not you have dense breasts.
Support After a Cancer Diagnosis
If you have recently been diagnosed, support through cancer and all of these various treatment options and surgeries is critical; support can be found in friends, as Doherty knows, and also in family members, a partner or spouse, and professional support, like a therapist.
Beverly Reeves, who battled ovarian cancer, explained to SurvivorNet in an earlier interview how important friendship and community support are when battling cancer. She says, "If I had one piece of advice for someone who had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it would be to get a strong support group together."
"Get your close friends. If you're connected to a faith community, get your faith community. Get your family. Let them know what's going on and let them help you. And sometimes that's the most difficult thing to do, but just know that they are there. If they love you, they're there to help you."
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