Sharing a video of her receiving brain radiation, Shannen Doherty says, “My fear is obvious.”
Shannen Doherty’s Health Update: Facing Cancer With Strength
Actress Shannen Doherty, aged 52, has recently shared an update on her health situation, shedding light on her ongoing struggle with cancer.
Discovering Brain Metastases
On Tuesday, Doherty revealed that a CT scan, performed on January 5, had disclosed the presence of brain metastases, in addition to her previously diagnosed stage 4 breast cancer from February 2020. According to Mayo Clinic, this condition arises when cancer cells from the original site travel and spread to the brain.
First Round of Radiation and Coping with Anxiety
Captioning an Instagram video where she undergoes radiation therapy, Doherty shared, “The first round of radiation occurred on January 12. Obviously, I’m scared. There’s a lot going on in my life, and I have severe claustrophobia.”
Despite her fears, she expressed gratitude towards her medical team and highlighted the realities of living with cancer. “I am fortunate to have wonderful doctors like Dr. Amin Mirahdi and the amazing technologists at Cedar Sinai. But this is the face of cancer. The anxiety, the uncertainty, the timing of it all.”
She added, “It’s difficult to settle your affairs when you feel like you have another 10 or 15 years left.”
Doherty’s update follows a video she had posted on Instagram earlier, dated “January 9, 2023”, showing her getting fitted for the mask she would wear during her treatment sessions.
Sharing Her Journey: Speaking Out and Raising Awareness
Doherty has been consistently open about her health journey. She was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and later announced that the disease had returned in 2017 after a period of remission.
During a “Charmed” panel at the 90s Con in March, when asked about her health, Doherty responded, “I’m feeling great, thank you!”
Through sharing her experiences on social media platforms, Doherty has sought to provide a genuine portrayal of what battling cancer looks like. “Is everything pretty? No, but it’s real. And by sharing, I hope that we can all learn more and gain a better understanding of the realities of cancer.”
She expressed her hopes in an Instagram post in October 2021. “I hope I’ve inspired women to schedule mammograms, to have regular check-ups, to conquer their fears, and to face whatever might be in front of them,” she said.
In her battle against cancer, Shannen Doherty serves as a beacon of resilience and inspiration, fostering greater awareness and encouraging others to prioritize their health through regular check-ups and proactive measures.
