Shannen Doherty Admits Her 'Fear Is Obvious' As Cancer Spreads To Her Brain

Jun 09, 2023 by apost team

Actress Shannen Doherty is best known for her long-running acting career, with her most notable roles in "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Charmed," among other TV shows and movies. In fact, Doherty has acted since she was a child and was even lucky enough to work with the acclaimed actor Michael Landon for her first few acting roles.

Her first role was on the show "Father Murphy" before Landon cast her in another show of his, "Little House: A New Beginning," which was a spin-off of "Little House on the Prairie." Doherty posted a throwback photo of herself to Instagram in June 2021 and revealed a bit about those roles. She wrote in the caption:

"Father Murphy. My first job with the amazing Michael Landon producing. ... Michael soon after cast me in Little House New Beginnings where I had the privilege of him directing me many times. #buckteeth"

But whichever period of her career you might know, Doherty has most recently been in the press due to her ongoing battle with cancer. After she was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, Doherty went into remission for two years, but sadly cancer returned. She revealed on "Good Morning America" in February 2020 that she had not "processed it" and that it was "a bitter pill to swallow."

In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight in December 2021, the actress spoke about her dreams for 2022, which included "progression" in finding a cure for the disease. She also said she was "doing well" and hoped to continue acting in the coming year.

However, in June 2023, the actress sadly revealed that cancer had spread to her brain.

The return of Doherty's cancer was discovered after she went to get back pain checked in 2020, according to ELLE. The cancer was found to have spread to her spine. But despite being at stage four, Doherty never gave up hope. In fact, she proved in the years since how much she's willing to fight, and she hasn't been afraid to share her story with the public. 

In an interview with ET in December 2021, Doherty spoke further about her ongoing battle and what she wished for the year ahead. She said:

"If I were dreaming of what would happen in 2022, I think lot more research and progression as far as finding the cure for cancer is my ultimate, ultimate dream because even though I am thriving and I'm doing well, I still have cancer and you don't want stage four."

She continued, as she explained how that motivated her to help raise awareness in a bid to find a cure:

"But I have it and so I think in the back of my mind, this constant sort of OK, 'What can I do to help bring more awareness, what can I do the help raise money, what can I do to sort of push research for not just myself but for everybody else who is suffering from cancer?"'

While progress in finding a cure for cancer is Doherty's ultimate dream, the actress also spoke about more realistic goals she had for herself, which included continuing to act, something she hasn't slowed down doing despite her diagnosis.

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Doherty told ET: 

"Realistically, I hope that my health just continues to be stable and that I continue the relationships with my husband and my mom and my friends and I hope their work continues to grow and it only gets better."

The actress had still been acting, notably in the movie "Fortress," and announced she didn't plan on slowing down anytime soon. She said in the interview:

"I just I hope that next year, work-wise continues. I hope I continue to get these opportunities and that I continue to work with people that I've always admired and wanted to work with."

Beyond her work on "Fortress," in which she co-starred with Bruce Willis, Doherty also filmed a number of movies that year, including one with Mel Gibson and a Lifetime movie titled "List of a Lifetime." The latter even earned her a Critics Choice Award nomination. She told the news outlet:

"I'm doing great and I feel great. I I feel really blessed, this year's been kind of an interesting year for me because work is so important to me and especially as somebody with cancer, you want to constantly put it out there that you know you're so hirable, you're so employable and that oftentimes for people like myself, it's the work that helps drive us."

She added:

"It's the work that I wake up in the morning so excited to go create, and do my job, which is a job that I actually love, and this year's just been phenomenal. I've done a lot of work, a movie that I did for Lifetime called List of Lifetime just got nominated this morning for a Critics Choice Award, so that's pretty special." 

Although Doherty appeared to be doing well despite the return of cancer, the actress updated her fans with tragic news in June 2023. In a series of Instagram posts, the actress announced that in January 2023 a CT scan confirmed that cancer had spread to her brain. In one video she appeared to be about to have a scan done, and she explained in her second post that video showed "the process of getting fitted for the mask which you wear during radiation to your brain."

Her second video was a close-up of her face while she underwent another procedure as tears streamed down from her eyes. She captioned the heartbreaking video:

"January 12, the first round of radiation took place. My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic and there was a lot going on in my life. I am fortunate as I have great doctors like Dr Amin Mirahdi and the amazing techs at cedar sinai. But that fear…. The turmoil….. the timing of it all…. This is what cancer can look like."

Doherty hasn't held back in being transparent with her fans about her cancer journey, which has been confronting and heartbreaking to witness. Celebrity friends of the actress rallied behind her in support. Sarah Michelle Gellar wrote, "You are a warrior," while Selma Blair, who has undergone her own health struggles with multiple sclerosis in recent years, wrote:

"This is a lot. This is a lot to take on, still again. And I am wishing for all the wise peace you have learned to find you in the terror moments. To know we are holding you. Love. All love. 💛" 

Other friends who sent their support included musician Harry Connick Jr. and actress Marcia Cross.

We wish Doherty all the best in her ongoing battle. 

Are you a fan of Shannen Doherty? What can you say about her most recent health update? Let us know, then be sure to pass this on to others so they can stay up to date as well.