Shannen Doherty has been incredibly vulnerable and candid about her cancer battle, especially in recent years. The Charmed actress is once again facing a round of treatment, with chemotherapy ahead. She discussed the next step on her Let’s Be Clear podcast.
On the June 24 episode, Doherty discussed returning to chemotherapy.
I am having to go back on chemo and it’s really hard, like the idea of going through that all over again has wrecked me. I thought I was fine.
Shannen Doherty, Let’s Be Clear
Doherty clarified that she’s known for a long time that her cancer is “very serious,” but that didn’t make the news any easier.
So there is hope mixed with my own bit of sadness because, again, I just don’t know what all these chemos — and it’s more than one chemo that I’m going on. We’re kind of throwing the kitchen sink at it … When you have to go to the hospital and you have to, you know, get put under [and] a port put in you, it becomes very real in an incredibly different way, because I have no idea how long I’m gonna be on the chemo for.
Shannen Doherty, Let’s Be Clear
Many people who undergo chemotherapy get a timeframe for how long they will undergo that particular treatment. In Shannen Doherty’s case, however, there’s no telling how her body and her cancer will react. Those reactions will dictate how treatment moves forward.
That’s not something that I can predict. It’s not something my doctors can predict. And it’s scary.
Shannen Doherty, Let’s Be Clear
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Her cancer did go into remission, but in 2020, she revealed it had returned at Stage 4. More recently, she shared that the cancer had spread to her brain.
Doherty Struggles with Her Life’s Journey Being ‘Unknown’
Shannen Doherty is dealing with a lot of uncertainty. Even her life outside of her illness has had some difficult blows, including her divorce from Kurt Iswarienko after 11 years of marriage.
To just be walking into the unknown — I just feel like my life has been unknown for over a year now, between divorce and cancer.
Shannen Doherty, Let’s Be Clear
Those surrounding Doherty are hoping for the best for her, both in love and health. Though she’s had a very difficult go of things and has no idea what the future has in store, the actress is also trying to hold onto positivity.
I got to say that there is some positivity there, and the positivity is that because my molecular structure of my cancer cells changed recently, it means that there’s a lot more protocols for me to try. So for the first time in a couple of months, probably, I feel hopeful because there are so many more protocols now, whereas before I was hopeful, but I was still getting prepared. Now I’m like, “Oh, I don’t need to be prepared. I need to go on a vacation. I need to go on a boat again and explore places.”
Shannen Doherty, Let’s Be Clear
Doherty has inspired many people with her continued desire to enjoy everything life has to offer. She hasn’t given up and displays that she has plenty of fight in her each time she bravely discusses her condition. Her honesty, especially when she could choose the path of privacy, is very admirable.
