Shannen's Stage Four Cancer Journey
- One year ago, in February 2020, actress Shannen Doherty shared with the world that her breast cancer had returned, and it had spread.
- Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016.
- She has armed herself with a strong support network of friends and her partner; a good support system can make the cancer journey easier to manage.
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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.
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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