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Shannen Doherty says breast cancer, first diagnosed in 2015, has spread to her brain and shared an emotional video describing her anxiety during treatment.
The 52-year-old actress, who is best known for ‘Beverly Hills’, ‘90210’ and ‘Charmed,’ wrote on her Instagram page that a CT scan in January “showed mets in my brain.”
On Monday, she shared a video on Instagram that she says depicts “the process of fitting into the mask you wear during brain radiation.” On Tuesday, she shared a follow-up video of herself undergoing the first round of this radiation treatment in mid-January.
Doherty is seen crying as she prepares for the procedure while wearing the protective mask.
“My anxiety is evident,” Doherty wrote. “I’m extremely claustrophobic and I’ve had a lot going on in my life.”
Doherty filed for divorce from her husband of 11 years, photographer Kurt Iswarienko, in April.
“I’m lucky to have great doctors like Dr. Amin Mirahdi and the amazing technicians at Cedars-Sinai,” Doherty wrote in her Instagram post. “But this fear. The riot. The timing of everything. This is what cancer can look like.”
Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, but went into remission in 2017 after undergoing treatment. However, in a 2020 GMA interview, she announced that the breast cancer had returned as stage 4 cancer.
The actress has been working since her diagnosis and said she knew about the diagnosis while filming the 90210 reboot, which aired on Fox in 2019. In late 2016, she also filmed the Heathers reboot for TV Land and several Lifetime projects.
Among those who posted answers about Doherty today was actress Selma Blair, who struggles with MS herself. Blair wrote: “It’s still a long way to go. And I wish all the wise peace you have learned to come to you in the moments of terror. Knowing we’re holding you.”
Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar replied, “You are a warrior,” while Mira Sorvino added, “Sending you love.”
Actor/director Kevin Smith wrote: “I have my fingers crossed for you my irreplaceable friend. You’ve been such a fearless fighter your whole life, so it’s understandable that you’re a little scared every now and then. But when those moments are over, let that indomitable Doherty spirit reign supreme.”
City News Service contributed to this report.