‘90210’ Star Shannen Doherty, 51, Posts Peaceful Sunset Photo On Instagram: She’s Living Her Best Life While Living With Cancer

Doherty, who is married to Kurt Iswarienko, continues to focus on the good during her breast cancer battle. Focusing on the positives through cancer can be so powerful.

Fans were loving Doherty’s incredible photo. One Instagram user, @valenteenawaterhou, says, “Beautiful!!! enjoy it, Shannen! Kisses.” Another, @jessicaprideaux2019, says simply, “Love you ❤️.” Another writes, enthusiastically saying, “BEAUTIFUL SUNSET FOR A BEAUTIFUL SOUL.”

Shannen's Breast Cancer Battle

Shannen 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 Shannen Doherty had (a single mastectomy), is a common treatment path for many people fighting breast cancer. In an earlier interview, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute explains the path to surgery.

She says, "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, which 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."

When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?

Focusing on the Positive Through Cancer

We love how Doherty is keeping an attitude of gratitude, and focusing on life’s beautiful, peaceful moments amid her cancer journey.

Anecdotal evidence from SurvivorNet experts points to how a positive mindset and gratitude can positively impact a cancer prognosis. One oncologist at Cedars-Sinai tells SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, "My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they're diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn't that mean I'm good at saying that the cancer won't grow," he says.

"But I'm pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life."

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