The actress Shannen Doherty, who first rose to fame in the 1980s for her role as Brenda Walsh in the iconic teen drama Beverly Hills, 90201, shared that her metastatic (stage 4) breast cancer has now spread to her bones.
The 52-year-old Doherty continues to receive treatment and remains focused on what she wants to keep doing: living life to the fullest. In her most recent interview with People magazine, the actress 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,” she said, cracking a smile. “I’m just not — I’m not done.”
Thanks to early detection and advancing treatments, the number of women living with metastatic breast cancer increased by 31 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to research, and is expected to increase to 55 percent by 2030.
Following her stint on 90210, the actress continued her television success with the lead role in the witchcraft-themed series Charmed as well as appearing in various films, including notable works like Heathers and Mallrats.
Since first revealing her diagnosis in 2015, the actress has been very open about her eight-year journey with cancer in the press as well as on social media, sharing glimpses into her daily life, treatments, and the challenges she’s encountered at each stage. Her authenticity resonated with followers, turning her social media into a platform for both vulnerability and strength.
August 2015: Doherty Publicly Announces She’s Been Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
The actress revealed to People magazine that she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2015, when she discovered she had invasive breast cancer metastatic to at least one lymph node.
“I am continuing to eat right, exercise, and stay very positive about my life,” she continued. “I am thankful to my family, friends, and doctors for their support and, of course, my fans who have stood by me,” she said in a statement.
It’s estimated that every year about 240,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and 2,100 cases in men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in the United States.
August 2016: Actress Reveals Mastectomy — and That Her Breast Cancer May Have Spread
Doherty revealed that she had a single mastectomy in May, and that “the unknown is the scariest part” of her cancer journey, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
A bilateral mastectomy is when both breasts are removed, and a single mastectomy is when one breast is removed.
“I had breast cancer that spread to the lymph nodes, and from one of my surgeries, we discovered that some of the cancer cells might have actually gone out of the lymph nodes,” the actress said. Doherty explained that because of that, she would be undergoing chemo followed by radiation.
If breast cancer spreads beyond the breast, it typically goes first to the nearby lymph nodes under the arm, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). It can also sometimes spread to lymph nodes located near the collarbone or breastbone.
The treatment Doherty described is typical: Women who have a mastectomy are typically treated with radiation if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, according to ACS.
April 2017: Breast Cancer Remission Brings Mixed Emotions
Doherty posted on Instagram that although her heart was certainly lighter, she also expressed uncertainty about the future. “Good news? YES. Overwhelming. YES. Now more waiting. As every single one of my fellow cancer family knows, the next five years is crucial. Reoccurrences happen all the time.”
But ultimately, the actress expressed gratitude. “I am blessed, I know that. But for now … remission. I’m just going to breathe. #cancerslayer.”
Remission means that the signs and symptoms of cancer are reduced. When there isn’t any evidence of cancer on physical exam, blood work, or imaging tests, cancer is considered in complete remission, according to the National Cancer Institute.
May 2018: Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Two and a half years after revealing her breast cancer diagnosis, Doherty shared a photo of herself in the hospital with her mother by her side on Instagram.
“Happy Mother’s Day mom … I love you. Thank you for always being there. I’d write more but pain pills are kicking in. #reconstruction.”
If a woman chooses to have breast reconstruction, it can be done at the same time as a mastectomy, or it can be performed later, according to Susan G. Komen. Other health conditions, surgical risk factors, and future treatments are all considered when planning the time of reconstruction.
February 2020: The Cancer Returns as Stage 4, Metastatic
Doherty disclosed that her cancer had returned, now at stage 4, metastatic, in an interview with Good Morning America. “I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,” she said.
Even after receiving her diagnosis, she continued to work, this time on a reboot of 90210. Although she had been very public about her cancer journey to that point, Doherty kept the news to herself for the first few months because she wanted to prove she could continue to work. “Like, you know, our life doesn’t end the minute we get that diagnosis. We still have some living to do.”
Metastatic breast cancer (stage 4) is when breast cancer spreads beyond the breast, to the bones, liver, brain, or another organ. About 3 in 10 women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer develop metastatic breast cancer, according to Breastcancer.org.
It happens when cancer cells break off from the original tumor, enter the bloodstream or lymph system, and spread to other areas of the body. Most metastatic cancers are manageable, but not curable, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The five-year survival rate for women with metastatic breast cancer in the United States is 30 percent, per the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
January 2023: Doherty’s Breast Cancer Spreads to the Brain
In January 2023 Doherty posted on Instagram: “my CT scan showed mets in my brain.”
She shared an emotional video that showed the star undergoing radiation with a custom-made mask that keeps her head still during the treatment so the lasers could target the tumor as accurately as possible.
Metastatic breast cancer is made up of cells from the original tumor that first developed in the breast — so if it spreads to the brain, the metastatic tumor in the brain is made up of breast cancer cells, not brain cancer cells.
November 2023: Doherty Shares That Her Stage 4 Cancer Has Spread to the Bones
Most commonly, bone metastases are treated with a therapy that treats the cancer along with a medicine that can strengthen the bone to prevent fracture and pain, according to the American Cancer Society. These medicines are also used to treat osteoporosis. They are also critical to patients with bone metastases because they make the bones much stronger — and stronger bones are better at resisting cancer.
After sharing her most recent diagnosis, Doherty expressed her desire to continue to work and move forward. She hopes to get into clinical trials as new treatments are developed.
Breastcancer.org offers a breast cancer trial search to help match women with metastatic breast cancer to the appropriate clinical trial.
