Support From Fans for Shannen Doherty
- As Shannen Doherty bravely battles stage 4 cancer, her fans are showering her with support and encouragement to help her through.
- This type of support – whether it’s from friends or family – is critical to help survivors battle their disease.
- According to licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin, “studies have found consistently that loneliness is a significant risk factor for physical and mental illnesses and the trajectory of recovery.” So, it’s important to feel supported and know you’re not alone during a cancer battle.
- In order to receive support, however, it is imperative you share at least some details of your cancer journey with others.
- According to New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik, “people should do what feels right to them” when it comes to sharing or not sharing info about your cancer battle.
- But she recommends reaching out to a mental health professional who has experience working with cancer warriors if you need to go beyond your circle of family and friends for support.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. It went into remission in 2017 before sadly returning as stage 4 in 2019.
Read MoreSupport for Shannen Doherty
But despite everything she’s going through, Shannen Doherty is still staying busy. She reportedly has a podcast in the works, and she’ll be meeting with fans during a 3-day event in Puyallup, Washington, called Washington State Summer Con starting June 23.
On top of keeping herself busy, the former “Charmed” star has also been blessed with a massive amount of support from fans.
View this post on Instagram
“I had the honor of meeting #shannendoherty at this year’s #90scon in Ct,” one fan account holder wrote under a promo photo for Doherty’s upcoming fan convention. “Shannen is one of the most beautiful humans ever. Beyond kind. For those that can make this event do so.
“Regardless the amount of time you get to spend with her… you will walk away feeling inspired. #washingtonsummercon #shannenstrong #teamshannen”
Other fans have also been working to get Doherty her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
I will help this trend. She deserves it. âï¸ #shannendoherty
you are loved. â¤ï¸ https://t.co/51Ws8k7RRmVita Danielle (@vitapeacelove) June 22, 2023
“#shannendoherty deserves her own star!” one Twitter user wrote under a picture of Doherty smiling next to actor William Shatner’s star.
“I will help this trend. She deserves it. #shannendoherty you are loved,” another fan wrote in retweeting the original post.
Getting Support During a Cancer Battle
Feeling supported and knowing you’re not alone during a cancer battle is crucial.
Finding Support as a Cancer Survivor
"Studies have found consistently that loneliness is a significant risk factor for physical and mental illnesses and the trajectory of recovery," licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin told SurvivorNet.
"The act of sharing our time and words with others can alleviate emotional and physical pain."
In order to receive support, however, it is imperative you share at least some details about your cancer journey with others. But whom you share with and how much to share is entirely up to you.
Do I Need to Share My Cancer Diagnosis in Social Situations?
“Some people start to kind of share the information with many family members and friends, and they feel that works for them, and that it’s a way that they can get support from other people,” New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik said.
“Other people are much more private about it, and there is no one right way to handle this diagnosis.
“People should do what feels right to them.”
Some cancer survivors don’t need to go beyond their circle of family and friends for support, but others might need a little extra help. For latter group, Dr. Plutchik recommends reaching out to a mental health professional who has experience working with cancer warriors.
MORE: Seeking Support: The First 3 Things to Do After a Cancer Diagnosis
“Try to find a mental health professional who is experienced in this area and who really understands the nuance and intricacies involved in this,” Dr. Plutchik explained.
“Make sure that the mental health professional that you work with is reaching out with your consent to the rest of the team, to the oncologist, to the surgeon if those people are involved.
“It can be helpful to reach out to family, friends, anybody else, any other caretakers that would be involved in the person’s treatment… You don’t want a situation where everybody is kind of doing their own thing on the team.”
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.