Shannen Doherty is an incredibly brave woman who, in 2020, decided to open up about her experience with cancer treatment. It’s an unpleasant process that takes a toll on the body, and she wanted people to understand it better.

There is a lot of fear surrounding cancer, and Shannen’s goal was to shed light on the reality of the grueling treatments.

For many people, the thought of cancer is terrifying. The fear of receiving a diagnosis can consume their thoughts and lead to worst-case scenarios. Unless you’ve had a loved one go through cancer treatment, it’s hard to truly understand what it’s like.

Thanks to Shannen Doherty’s bravery in sharing her raw and honest cancer experience, more people can now grasp the challenges and hardships of these treatments.

In October 2021, Shannen began documenting her journey with breast cancer on Instagram. This was something she hadn’t done before, at least not in such detail. She first had breast cancer in 2015, which went into remission, only to return in 2020 as stage four breast cancer.

To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she decided to share her personal journey, including the not-so-pretty aspects. Shannen wrote, “For breast cancer awareness month, I’d like to share more of my own personal journey from my first diagnosis to my second. Is it all pretty? NO, but it’s truthful, and my hope in sharing is that we all become more educated, more familiar with what cancer looks like.”

• Embracing the Journey

  Shannen Doherty invites her followers and anyone interested to join her on her cancer treatment journey. On her Instagram page, she posted about her first round of radiation treatment, marking the beginning of her journey. She also shared the process of getting a mask fitted for CT scans to wear during brain radiation. She expressed her fear and claustrophobia, but also highlighted the incredible support she received from her doctors and technicians at Cedar Sinai. Shannen showed the emotional turmoil that accompanies the cancer journey, reminding everyone that this is what cancer can look like.

She then shared a video of herself before surgery, where a tumor was going to be removed and biopsied. Shannen revealed her petrifying fear and worries about the surgery’s outcome, leaving her loved ones, and losing her sense of self. This authentic portrayal of cancer highlights the emotional impact it can have.

Shannen Doherty’s openness and authenticity have allowed others to see the realities of cancer treatment. She has become a beacon of strength and courage, shining just as brightly as the star she has always been.