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Topics: Cancer, Celebrity, Film and TV, Health, Podcast, Social Media, Shannen Doherty
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Cancer, Celebrity, Film and TV, Health, Podcast, Social Media, Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty opened up about the 'hardest time' during her cancer journey in discussion with fellow actor Katherine Heigl.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, the 90210 and Charmed star spoke openly about her journey on social media as well as her podcast Let's Be Clear.
On 14 July, Doherty's publicist announced the 53-year-old had sadly passed away and an episode from the actor's podcast released on 28 June sees her discuss what would end up being her last few weeks and how despite them being some of the 'hardest' in her cancer journey, there was still something 'beautiful' about the experience.
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On the episode of her podcast released last month, Doherty sat down with fellow actor Katherine Heigl to discuss their experiences as women in the film and TV industry.
However, as well as Doherty having questions for the 27 Dresses star, Heigl also had questions for the podcast host.
With Heigl's mom having also been diagnosed with breast cancer, the actor asked Doherty how long she'd had it for, prompting Doherty to open up about how she was currently doing.
Doherty explained after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, she went into remission 'right at the end of 2017 or at the beginning of 2018' but then the cancer 'came back in 2019' at stage four.
The cancer then spread to her bones and later her brain, resulting in Doherty undergoing brain surgery in 2023 to 'remove one of the larger tumors' as well as 'brain radiation'.
She continued: "Thank god, it was like focal radiation. But you know [...] there's so many protocols. Eventually it's it's stage four cancer. Like eventually those protocols are going to stop working and you just hope that you are on one long enough for them to actually come up with another protocol and another protocol. So it's really hard."
Doherty revealed that around the time of June was 'probably the hardest time' for her that she's 'ever had with the cancer'.
She added: "I've always kind of felt very positive and like I can deal with that, and this is definitely like I'm overly emotional, Like I want to cry every single second at good or bad."
However, Doherty resolved: "[...] But what's really beautiful about it is I think you become so incredibly sensitive that your eyes are like wide open to everything around you, to people, to how they react, to what you can possibly do that's better for the world, to what your purpose here is."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.