Supporters were heartbroken after Shannen Doherty’s emotional interview on “Good Morning America” Tuesday, when she announced that her breast cancer was back. But not long after her appearance, the “90210” star posted an uplifting cartoon that proved her indomitable spirit has not been shaken.
“We only live once, Snoopy,” Charlie Brown says. To which Snoopy replies, “Wrong! We only die once. We live every day!”
Read MoreView this post on InstagramThe actress was first diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2015 and candidly shared her journey with the disease through remission with an incredibly upbeat and positive attitude.
Her marriage to husband Kurt Iswarienko, a photographer, was strengthened, she said, noting, "Kurt and I have a much deeper appreciation for each other now."
And in September of last year, she said in a post that laughter "has always been the best medicine."
The Timing on Shannen Doherty’s Cancer Announcement
The actor, 48, says she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.
"I don't think I've processed it," she shared with Amy Robach on "GMA." "It's a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways."
Her diagnosis came about a year ago and Doherty chose to keep the news private as she worked on the "90210" reboot, "BH90210" since cancelled leaning on cast mates such as Brian Austin Green, she said.
She came out with the news now, she said, because of a lawsuit she filed against State Farm after her California home was damaged in the Woolsey Fire in 2018, and was concerned information about her health would come out in court documents.
“I’d rather people hear it from me. I don’t want it to be twisted. I don’t want it to be a court document. I want it to be real and authentic,” Doherty told “GMA.” “And I want to control the narrative. I want people to know from me, I just didn’t want them to know yet.”
The Power of Staying Positive With Cancer
Doherty is far from alone in choosing positivity as she battles her diagnosis. While negative feelings — such as anger, shame, fear and anxiety are extremely normal, many survivors tell us that finding positivity during cancer has a lot to do with finding things to be grateful for.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, on living in gratitude
Alex Trebek, who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, has shown through example that those with an advanced diagnosis can live a full and joyful life.
And his wife, Jean Trebek, has opened up about how focus on healing and spirituality have been extremely important to her, and that she is “choosing a life of gratitude.”
Jim Kelly, the Buffalo Bill’s former starting quarterback who lost his only son, Hunter, to a rare genetic disease, has faced three bouts of jaw cancer, and as a result had his entire jaw removed and reconstructed. Kelly has faced tremendous loss and devastation, but in a conversation with SurvivorNet this past September, he shared how grateful he is for his "Four Fs": Faith, Family, Friends, and Fans and the incredible caregivers in his life.
"I came around to the sharing," Kelly remembers. "I started to realize, 'If I'm gonna get through this, I'm going to need as many prayers as possible."
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