Beverly Hills, 90210’s Shannen Doherty reveals breast cancer has spread to her bones and insists ‘I don’t want to die’
SHANNEN Doherty has insisted she isn't ready to give up despite her breast cancer spreading to her bones.
The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum, 52, said she "doesn't want to die" and hopes to get into clinical trials for new treatments.
Shannen revealed eight years ago that she had Stage 4 breast cancer.
She opened up to People about her journey in the outlet's latest cover story.
"I don't want to die," Shannen said.
"I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating.
"I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better. I’m just not — I’m not done."
The actress will discuss more about her diagnosis on her new memoir podcast, Let's Be Clear with Shannen Doherty, dropping December 6 on iHeartRadio.
She also shared with People her hopes to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.
“It’s insane to me [that] we still don’t have a cure,” the Charmed alum admitted.
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'FEEL SO BLESSED'
But what drives Shannen the most is to prove that she can still work, despite her illness.
"People just assume that it means you can’t walk, you can’t eat, you can’t work. They put you out to pasture at a very early age —‘You’re done, you’re retired,’ and we’re not," the TV star said.
"We’re vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work and embrace life and keep moving forward."
Given the challenges, the experience has made Shannen grateful for every day moving forward with her family and friends.
"My greatest memory is yet to come," the 52-year-old said.
"I pray. I wake up and go to bed thanking God, praying for the things that matter to me without asking for too much. It connects me to a higher power and spirituality. My faith is my mantra."
"I know it sounds cheesy and crazy, but you’re just more aware of everything, and you feel so blessed," she added.
"We’re the people who want to work the most, because we’re just so grateful for every second, every hour, every day we get to be here."
DIFFICULT BATTLE
Shannen survived her previous battle with breast cancer after being diagnosed in 2015, but the disease ultimately returned.
On February 4, 2020, the star revealed her cancer had returned sometime in 2019.
She found out earlier this year that the cancer had spread and shared a video on social media of her getting fitted for the mask she will wear while getting radiation on her brain.
"Yesterday's video was showing the process of getting fitted for the mask which you wear during radiation to your brain," Shannen wrote in her caption.
"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 heartbreaking clip showed Shannen crying while lying down with a mask covering the top of her head and her mouth as she bit on a popsicle stick.
Fans supported the Little House on the Prairie alum in the comments and applauded her bravery and vulnerability for sharing her story.
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In her previous sit down with People, Shannen said she felt compelled to speak out about what it was like living with cancer.
"I feel like I have a responsibility in my more public life, which I separate from my acting life … to talk about cancer and perhaps educate people more and let people know that people with stage 4 are very much alive and very active," she told the publication.
