Shannen Doherty has been battling breast cancer for eight years, and it has not been easy. She shared an update on her health on Instagram recently, writing, “Doctors visit early in the morning for scans. “.
“With groggy vision. “My hair was a mess, but the new bandage wraps made my day happier!” she wrote alongside a photo of her pink bandages on social media. “.
Doherty received the heartbreaking diagnosis that she had breast cancer in 2015 after discovering a lump in her breast. She underwent radiation, chemotherapy, and one mastectomy after receiving hormone treatment for a while.
Doherty’s cancer went into remission in the year 2017. Sadly, February 2020 saw the return of stage IV breast cancer. Her condition has affected other parts of her body as well.
Stages 0 to IV are used to diagnose breast cancer; higher numbers indicate a more invasive malignancy or the extent to which the malignant cells have spread outside of the original tumor.
Stage IV, sometimes referred to as metastatic breast cancer, is the stage Doherty is in and indicates that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Stage 0 indicates a disease that is noninvasive or contained inside the milk ducts.
As per the American Cancer Society, over 150,000 Americans who have survived breast cancer are currently managing metastatic illness.
Research has indicated that although metastatic breast cancer is frequently incurable, the life expectancy of those diagnosed with the disease has increased dramatically as a result of technological advancements.
Doherty acted in two TV films last year, Dying to Belong and List of a Lifetime, to help her get through these difficult years of cancer treatment.
The actress has discussed many aspects of her cancer journey on social media over the years, including her chemotherapy experiences.
In an October 2018 piece, she also shared with her readers the details of her struggle with breast cancer: “The treatment caused multiple nose bleeds for me.”. “.
I’m not sure if any of you have encountered this before. Also, I was exhausted. My friend Kristy had given me some hilarious pajamas that I put on to cheer myself up. “.
“Yes! They really did make me feel better,” I exclaimed. I could make fun of myself even though I looked foolish. I found humor to be a helpful tool in getting through difficult times. I believe that the impossibility is something we can all laugh at. “.
