Shannen Doherty has always been transparent about the battles she has faced before.
Now, the famed actress revealed Tuesday that she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer about a year ago, this time stage 4.
The actress, popularly known in TV shows like “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Charmed” shared that she wants to take control of her own narrative so she decided to go public with the diagnosis because she knew that “It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week.”
In an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, Doherty shared her feelings about her new struggle on air:
“I don’t think that I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,”
The 48-year old Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2015 and underwent treatment for almost two years before issuing a statement in 2017 that she was in remission.
She opened up about her feelings and the things that came into her mind after hearing her initial and her most recent diagnosis:
“My first reaction is always concern about, ‘How am I going to tell my mom? My husband?'”
“My mom is a ridiculously strong courageous human being. So is my husband, but I worry about him,”
“I’m petrified; I’m pretty scared,”
“There are definitely days where I say, ‘Why me?’ And then I go, ‘Why not me? Who else?’”
“Who else besides me deserves this? None of us do.”
The actress also shared how hard it is to deal with the recent passing of her friend and 90210 co-star Luke Perry last year, and how it had her asking:
“Why?”
“Why wasn’t it me? It was so weird for me to be diagnosed and then somebody who was seemingly healthy to go first,”
She also shared that the decision to act in the “90210” reboot, “BH90210,” is to honor Luke Perry.
As she continues to fight her battles day in and day out, Doherty continued filming and working 16-hour days to prove she can still do her job, and the same goes for other people who are also diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
Doherty said:
“You know, our life doesn’t end the minute we get that diagnosis, we still have some living to do,”
“But still, I had moments of great anxiety where I thought I can’t really do this.”
The actress said she kinda knew her most recent diagnosis would be known soon because this struggle of hers was stated in a lawsuit she filed against State Farm.
She told the hosts:
“I’d rather people hear it from me,”
“I don’t want it to be twisted. I don’t want it to be a court document.”
Amid the battle she’s facing with cancer, the actress is also in the middle of a legal fight with her insurance company State Farm.
Doherty sued State Farm after her California home was ravaged in the Woolsey Fire in 2018. She stated she is opening up about her cancer diagnosis now because the status of her health could come out in court documents ahead of any trial.
The actress clearly isn’t letting anything slow her down and is ready to face her battles and use her platform to make a difference. She told Good Morning America:
“I think the thing I want to do the most right now is I want to make an impact,”
“I want to be remembered for something bigger than just me.”
“I’m taking a stand for all of us,”
“Through this lawsuit and by saying enough is enough with big business and corporations running the little person over.”
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