Courage and Sisterhood– How Shannen Doherty Has Made It a Year Since Announcing Her Cancer Is Back

Doherty said on GMA last February, “It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week that — I’m stage four. So my cancer came back. And that’s why I’m here,” she told anchor Amy Robach last year. “I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,” said Doherty. The actress also shared the news on social media.

Doherty posted a picture of herself at the doctor and wrote on Instagram: “Ct scan to do mapping for radiation plan. This scared me so much. Not sure why. Was supposed to get it with contrast but the minute they started looking at which vein to use I started crying. Full panic attack. Sometimes, you just get sick of being poked. And that’s ok. I cried. I felt sorry for myself for a minute. Then stopped and reminded myself of how lucky I am.”

 

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Shannen’s Cancer Battle

Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and treated her disease with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. In 2018, she announced that she was in remission. In early 2020, her cancer returned and it had metastasized, meaning it spread to other parts of her body.

Related: Shannen Doherty's Dear Friend is Perfect Example of the Kind of Sisterhood of Support Needed When Battling Metastatic Breast Cancer

Surgery is a common breast cancer treatment for many women, including Doherty. In a previous interview, Dr. Ann Partridge, an Oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute said, “So when I talk to a woman who comes to me and she has breast cancer, I evaluate what the standard options for treatment for her are. [Options] typically include cutting out the cancer– which is either a lumpectomy if you can get it all with just a little scooping around of the area that’s abnormal, or a mastectomy for some women meaning taking the full breast because sometimes these lesions can be very extensive in the breast. And I’ll talk to a woman about that and I’ll say these are two main options or the big fork in the road.”

When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?

Coping with a Cancer Diagnosis

Doherty has an incredibly strong support network in her friends and her husband (producer Kurt Iswarienko, who worked on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl), and it’s clear that these strong social ties are a great source of joy and comfort during an otherwise difficult time. When coping with a cancer diagnosis and treatment, it’s important to lean on others during a time of need.

Related: The Benefit of Support Networks for Cancer Patients

Ovarian cancer survivor, Beverly Reeves, spoke in a previous interview about how her support network helped her get through cancer treatment. Reeves said, “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.”

'Faith, Family, and Friends' Helped Beverly Reeves Get Through Ovarian Cancer Treatment

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