Say one thing for Shannen Doherty, say that she’s a fighter.
The popular actor revealed in 2020 that she was once again fighting cancer, and in 2023 updated her followers to let them know the disease had spread to her brain.
Yet though Doherty has had some undeniably dark days of late, she’s never been anything less than transparent with her treatments and prognosis. Recently, the 52-year-old opened up once again on her current treatment plan, stating that she’s hoping for at least “three to five more years”…
No one can deny that the last few years have presented grueling challenges for Shannen Doherty.
The former Charmed star was first diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2015, though entered remission two years later in 2017.
Sadly, she revealed in 2020 that her cancer had returned as metastatic stage 4 breast cancer, a progression that then led her to confirm in 2023 that the illness had spread to her brain and bones.
Not only that, but Doherty also had to experience a heartbreaking divorce from third husband Kurt Iswarienko after 11 years. This shortly before undergoing brain surgery to remove a tumor.
“I went into that surgery early in the morning and I went in after I found out that my marriage was essentially over, that my husband had been carrying on an affair for two years,” she said at the time.
“To not go in that surgery, even though, being very clear, he wanted to go, I couldn’t go into that surgery with him there. I felt so betrayed.”
The 90210 alum is made of stern stuff, however, and has endeavored to remain positive throughout the trials and tribulations she’s faced.
On the most recent episode of her Let’s Be Clear podcast, Shannen revealed her aim of squeezing out “another three to five years”.
“[Dr Piro] and me talk about how we just need to squeeze out another three to five years and then there’s going to be T-cell therapy, or this or that which will give so many more options,” she said.
“Then there’s going to be another five years, and in another five year there’s a whole other set of options, and then in another five years there’s a cure.”
Doherty’s oncologist, Dr. Lawrence Piro, meanwhile, compared the treatment plan to riding horses.
“You want to ride every horse as long as it rides, and then you ride the next horse as much as possible,” he said.
“I’m riding those horses so I get to the fresh set of horses,” Doherty added.
We’re wishing Shannen Doherty all the very best moving forward. She continues to be an inspiration for all!
