Shannen Doherty, one of the biggest pop culture teen icons of the early nineties after starring in Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed, is in the fight of her life against stage 4 cancer which, the actress revealed via Instagram, has spread to her brain. Doherty had previously revealed, back in 2020, that her breast cancer had returned after first battling it in 2015 before it went into remission in 2017. As she explains in her Instagram story,
January 12, 2023. On January 5th, my ct scan showed Mets in my brain. Yesterday’s video showed the process of getting fitted for the mask which you wear during radiation to your brain. 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.
The comments were flooded will well-wishers, including Kevin Smith, who famously directed her in Mallrats. The director wrote, “Rooting for you, my irreplaceable friend. You have been such a fearless fighter your whole life, so it’s understandable to be a little scared from time to time. But when those moments pass, let that indomitable Doherty spirit take over anew. I love you so much, my Mallrat.”
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Olivia Munn, Harry Connick Jr, Dean Cain, Roma Downey and more all chimed in with messages of support. No doubt this is a difficult time for the actress, but she should be commended for putting a brave, public face on the battle with cancer, which has affected so many of us.