Shannen Doherty Announced That Her Breast Cancer Is In Remission
Shannen Doherty has candidly shared her breast cancer journey with fans, documenting her scans, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and health updates on Instagram. Now, the actress has big news: Shes in remission.
Moments. They happen. Today was and is a moment. What does remission mean? I heard that word and have no idea how to react. Good news? YES. Overwhelming. YES. Now more waiting, she wrote next to a photo of herself sitting on the floor, with her head cradled in her arms.
Doherty, who was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2015, says shes not totally in the clear yet, though. As every single one of my fellow cancer family knows, the next five years is crucial. Reoccurrences happen all the time. Many of you have shared that very story with me, she writes. So with a heart that is certainly lighter, I wait.
In the meantime, she says she has decisions to make, including whether she wants to have her breasts reconstructed and if she’s up for taking a drug for the next five years that she says comes with its own set of problems and side effects.
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According to the National Cancer Institute, remission is a decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. There are also different types of remission: In partial remission, some signs and symptoms of cancer are gone. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although cancer still may be in a persons body.
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New York Post: Shannen Doherty Undergoes Reconstructive Surgery
Shannen Doherty is giving fans another glimpse into her fight against breast cancer. On Thursday, the 45-year-old actress shared a video during a visit to her reconstructive surgeons office in preparation for her radiation treatment. This is Dr. Jay Orringer, who is my reconstructive surgeon and my friend, Doherty explained on Instagram.
What Is Shannen Doherty’s Net Worth
The Tennessee native is most famously known for her roles in Mallrats, Charmed, Beverly Hills 90210, Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Little House on the Prairie.
As of 2021, Doherty has an estimated net worth of $5 million according to Celebrity Net Worth but that figure could change following a recent $6.3 million lawsuit win.
On Monday, October 4, 2021, it was revealed that Doherty had won the multi-million dollar law suit against State Farm after they failed to pay policy benefits for Dohertys Malibu home following damage from a 2018 California wildfire.
A federal jury in California found the companys failure unreasonable and without proper cause.
Following the decision, State Farm released a statement saying: We empathize with Ms Dohertys health and wish her the best. We are disappointed by the jurys decision and respectfully disagree with it. We will explore all available legal options, including appealing the verdict.
They had previously claimed that she was looking for sympathy.
At this time, it remains unclear if the case is finalized.
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Stage 4 Breast Cancer Is Considered Incurable
Stage 4, the most advanced stage of breast cancer, means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, bones, and, in some cases, organs like the lungs, liver, or brain.
While such cancers are considered incurable, increasingly advanced treatments are helping people live longer and improve their symptoms. The American Cancer Society says the five-year survival rate for stage 4 breast cancer is 28%.
Treating a recurring cancer is also different from treating the disease for the first time, since cancer can become resistant to chemotherapy, and doubling up on treatments can worsen long-term side effects like nerve damage.
On “Nightline,” Doherty said she was still on her “first protocol,” or treatment plan, describing it as “a very, very, very big thing.”
“So it’s kind of like, you just want to last on your protocols as long as possible so that you don’t run out of protocols,” she said.
It’s unclear what her protocol involves, but she said it was allowing her to live in the moment rather than checking off bucket-list items, a concept she’s said she doesn’t believe in.
“I like to say that those are goals,” she told Chang, adding, “I just want to operate as I don’t have things to check off, because I’m going to keep fighting to stay alive.”
Getting Fitted For A New Bra Was ‘traumatic’
Doherty said one of the most difficult parts of battling breast cancer was having to adjust to the changes to her body. Among the many adaptations: getting fitted for a new bra size. “It was traumatic and horrible,” she told Entertainment Tonight, “and I didn’t think anything of it at the time, then my mom went with me and I broke down crying in the dressing room and ran out. And then sat in the car crying.”
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Her Cancer Is In Remission
On April 29, 2017, Doherty revealed that her cancer is in remission. “Moments. They happen. Today was and is a moment. What does remission mean? I heard that word and have no idea how to react. Good news? YES. Overwhelming. YES. Now more waiting,” she wrote.
While Doherty is remaining cautiously optimistic about the news, she is also well aware that the struggle is far from over. “As every single one of my fellow cancer family knows, the next five years is crucial. Reoccurrences happen all the time. Many of you have shared that very story with me,” she wrote.
“So with a heart that is certainly lighter, I wait,” she continued. “In the meantime, decisions. Reconstruction which is several surgeries. Decision on taking a pill for the next five years that comes with its own set of problems and side effects. I am blessed, I know that. But for now…. remission. I’m going to just breathe. #cancerslayer.”
Shannen Doherty Has Breast Cancer
did have a healing of cancersurgery to remove other cancerous legions. tweetedconfirmed to People told Entertainment Tonight in July 2016revealed in an emotional interviewannounced that she would have additional surgeryannounced that he would be taking sometold Us magazine statement to People magazinesaid in an interview with Spanish-language outlet El MundoLunden explained to People magazinewas diagnosed with breast cancerPeople magazinerevealed in February 2014 that he had been diagnosed with multiple myelomaan advocate for the use of medical marijuanasome interesting insightdiagnosed with cancer of the upper jaw boneKelly said in a statement from his former clubKelly was toldDoctors had diagnosed herrevealed she had a noncancerous brain tumor.sat down with CNN’s Elizabeth Cohenjoined the cast of Showtime’s “The Big C,”Sambolin saidbeen diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, spoke with CNN’s Piers Morgan in 2012 underwent a double mastectomy in 2011didn’t share news of her battle until 2012
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What Shannen Doherty Wants You To Know About Breast Cancer
Youâve probably seen Shannen Dohertyâs most recent posts about her breast cancer. The actress has never shied away from telling it like it is. Taken during her 6-year breast cancer journey, Doherty shows herself in bed, bald, and with a bleeding nose.
“Is it 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,” she wrote on .
Doherty, now 50, has stage IV breast cancer. In the 6 years since her 2015 diagnosis, sheâs been unflinchingly honest about her cancer. And though the stark photos might have upset some of her fans, they tell an important story.
“It’s an image that shows us that women diagnosed with breast cancer ⦠may have good days and bad days,” says Erin Roesch, MD, a breast medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic who was not involved in Doherty’s treatment.
It may be blunter than weâre used to seeing from a star. But by showing both the good and the bad, Doherty opens a window on the reality behind the pink ribbons. Breast cancer treatment has come a long way. You may live longer and better than women who had the disease before you. But itâs still really hard.
The Power Of Persistence & Positivity
We love how Doherty shares these powerful words with fans focused on persistence in the face of challenges. Colorectal surgeon Dr. Zuri Murrell says that having a positive and upbeat attitude like this may help with cancer outcomes.
Dr. Murrell says in a previous interview, My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after theyre diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK.
Now doesnt that mean Im good at saying that the cancer wont grow, he says. But Im pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.
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Shannen Doherty’s Cancer: What Does It Mean To Be In Remission
01 May 2017
Actress Shannen Doherty announced in an on Saturday that her breast cancer is in remission.
Doherty, who is now 46, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2015 and has publically documented her treatments, according to Today.
But what does it mean for cancer to go into remission?
A “complete remission” means that doctors see no evidence of cancer when they examine a patient and take scans, said Dr. Otis Brawley, the chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.
A cancer patient is said to be in remission if, after treatment, the doctors look at the area where there was once cancer and can no longer see the cancer, Brawley told Live Science.
But when a patient is in complete remission, it doesn’t mean that he or she is entirely in the clear.
Cancer patients who are in remission need periodic exams so that doctors can look to see whether the cancer has returned, an occurrence that doctors call a relapse, Brawley said. When a patient first enters remission, these “surveillance” exams are conducted every few months, but they usually become more spaced out the longer the patient goes without a relapse.
It’s possible for patients to be in complete remission for several years only to have a doctor then detect cancer again in the body, Brawley said. In these cases, it’s possible that the cancer was actually there all along, but was just too small for doctors to detect, he noted.
What Was Shannen Dohertys Early Career
Shannen was a child star and in the early 80s she had guest spots on TV series including Voyagers! and Father Murphy.
At the age of 11 she joined the cast of Little House On The Prairie, playing Jenny Wilder.
She stayed in the series until the show’s cancellation in 1983.
In 1985, Shannen played Maggie Malene in the teen movie Girls Just Want To Have Fun alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt.
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A Bitter Pill To Swallow
In February 2020, Doherty announced that her cancer had returned, and it was stage IV — the most advanced of the stages of cancer.
“I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,” she told ABC News’s Amy Robach, who is herself a breast cancer survivor.
At stage IV, the cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body.
“In that case, the breast cancer is no longer curable. However, I advise my patients that it’s certainly very treatable,” Roesch says.
New treatments have helped women live longer with metastatic breast cancer. They can stay on treatment for many years and “have a very good quality of life,” Roesch says.
Why Does Cancer Come Back
Some say the second cancer diagnosis is more devastating than the first. Its understandable to feel angry, frustrated, sad and uncertain when cancer in yourself or a loved one has recurred.
A cancer recurrence happens when some cells from your cancer remained, despite treatment to remove them. These cells could be in the same place where your cancer first originated, or they could be in another part of your body.
When a patients cancer goes into remission, its a victory for all of us, said Dr. George. But then we begin looking at their health through a different lens, watching for potential signs of recurrence.
Recurrence is divided into three categories:
- Distant recurrence: This refers to cancer that has spread to areas farther away from where your cancer was first found
- Local recurrence: The cancer reappears in the same place it was first found or very close by
- Regional recurrence: Cancer occurs in the lymph nodes and tissue located near your original cancer
In some cases, recurrence can still be cured. Even if it cannot be cured, treatment may be able to slow the cancers progress to prolong and improve your quality of life.
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Shannen Doherty Diagnosed With Breast Cancer Insists It Could Have Been Avoided
Shannen Doherty revealed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March. The actress stated in court documents that she discovered the cancer and its severity at a time when she was uninsured, arguing that it could have been avoided.
The “Beverly Hills 90210” star is suing the business management Tanner Mainstain Glynn & Johnson, according to The Hollywood Reporter, because she says it was their responsibility “to ensure timely payment of the medical insurance premiums she had through the Screen Actors Guild.”
TMZ obtained the official complaint document , which states, “In November 2013, SAG sent the premium invoice to Tanner Mainstain for Plaintiff’s medical insurance coverage for the year 2014. However, Defendants ignored it, failed to pay it and then promptly terminated their relationship with effective February 7, 2014.”
Doherty didn’t realize that once she was fired by her management firm, she became uninsured, reports THR. She began seeing doctors once she re-enrolled with SAG insurance in 2015 — she apparently had to wait until then — which is when she received her diagnosis.
The complaint also states, “Plaintiff was also informed that, had she been insured and able to visit her doctor, the cancer could potentially have been stopped, thus obviating the need for the future treatment that Plaintiff will likely have to suffer through now.”
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Actress Shannen Doherty has opened up about the reality of her cancer diagnosis for breast cancer awareness month and shared the one thing that is helping her get through.
The former star of Beverly Hills 90210, Charmed and Heathers was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and entered remission two years later. In February 2020 she revealed it had recurred and progressed to stage 4.
On Thursday local time, in a post to her 1.8 million Instagram followers, the 50-year-old said she was ready to share more of her own personal journey from my first diagnosis to my second.
Is it all pretty? NO but its truthful and my hope in sharing is that we all become more educated, more familiar with what cancer looks like, she wrote in the lengthy post.
I hope I encourage people to get mammograms, to get regular checkups, to cut thru the fear and face whatever might be in front of you.
In 2015 I got diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a mastectomy and did chemo and radiation.
I had many nose bleeds from the chemo.
Not sure if any of you experienced this. I also was beyond tired. I cheered myself up by putting on funny pyjamas that my friend Kristy gave me. Did they actually cheer me up? Yes!! Lol. I looked ridiculous and in that ridiculousness, I was able to laugh at myself.
Finding humor helped get me thru what seemed impossible. I hope we all find humor in the impossible.
The 50-year-old has two films – Dying to Belong and List of a Lifetime – debuting this month.
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Shannen Doherty Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
Shannen Doherty is battling breast cancer that worsened during a lapse in her health insurance caused by her former business managers, the actress claimed in a lawsuit filed Wednesday.
The former Beverly Hills, 90210 star, 44, claims that her former business managers and accountants mismanaged her money and allowed her health insurance to lapse last year.
Because of that, she said she didnt go to the doctor until she had insurance and there was a delay in diagnosing her cancer, which will likely require more drastic treatments, including a possible mastectomy and chemotherapy.
In March, Doherty discovered that she had invasive breast cancer and that it had spread while she was uninsured.
The suit alleges , was also informed that, had she been insured and able to visit her doctor, the cancer could potentially have been stopped, thus obviating the need for the future treatment that will likely have to suffer through now.
An attorney for business management firm Tanner Mainstain Glynn & Johnson denied the company caused Dohertys health insurance to lapse.
This isnt the first time Tanner Mainstain has been hit with a lawsuit. In 2014, Dohertys attorney, Devin McRae, sued the firm over claims that James Francos manager had embezzled money. McRae also represents Dohertys husband, Kurt Iswarienko, whos engaged in a suit against Mainstain over allegations regarding taxes.
The spread of the cancer has caused severe emotional distress, the lawsuit states.