Seeing someone you care about struggle with cancer is heartbreaking, even if they eventually beat it. While the person with cancer goes through a lot, their loved ones also face emotional challenges.
Thankfully, many have a supportive circle to lean on during tough times, proving that love and support make a huge difference.
In June, 52-year-old actress Shannen Doherty shared the sad news that her stage four cancer had spread to her brain, leading to an overwhelming show of support from her global fan base. Doherty, renowned for her roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She announced its remission in 2017 after treatments.
Unfortunately, she broke the news on “Good Morning America” in 2020 that her cancer had come back and had progressed to stage four.
Shannen Doherty shared, “It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week that I’m stage four. So my cancer came back and that’s why I’m here.” She had kept this distressing news private for a year, saying, “I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways.”
The depth of her struggle during that time is hard for anyone to fully understand, especially as she continued to work on the BH90210 reboot without revealing her diagnosis.
Doherty confided in a select few about her diagnosis, one of whom was her “Beverly Hills, 90210” co-star, Brian Austin Green. “I had moments of great anxiety where I thought, ‘I can’t really do this,’ and Brian was the one person who – of that group of people that knew – that I told, like, pretty quickly and said, ‘Here, this is what I’m dealing with’,” she said.
Brian was among the first she shared her situation with. “So prior to shooting he would always call me and say, ‘Listen, you know, whatever happens, I have your back.’ He would look at me and be like, ‘We got this, kiddo’…so Brian helped me through a lot.”
In a recent interview with the Herald Sun, Brian Austin Green provided an update about Shannen Doherty’s condition. ““We talk all the time,” he revealed. “She’s an incredibly tough person. If there’s anyone who could put up a real fight to cancer – she’s one of them. While recognizing the gravity of the situation, he added, “It’s not an easy situation, obviously, but I love her to death. And she’s making the absolute best of it.”
Doherty has earned immense respect for her transparency regarding her battle with cancer. Throughout her journey, she’s chosen to be candid with her fans, providing regular updates. This past June, she shared a video of her undergoing her first radiotherapy session. In the video, she described, “On January 5th, my CT scan showed Mets in my brain. Yesterday’s video was showing the process of getting fitted for the mask which you wear during radiation to your brain.”
“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.”
For those who admire Shannen Doherty, share this article as a way to express your support during her cancer battle. If you’ve watched someone you love confront this dreadful illness, please share your experiences in the comments.
