Shannen Doherty has revealed the heartbreaking news that her stage four breast cancer has spread to her bones.
The 52-year-old 90210 star was first diagnosed with stage four cancer back in 2020. At the time, the actress told Good Morning America that she was "petrified", saying: "It's going to come out in a matter of days or week that I am stage four. So my cancer came back and that's why I am here."
She added: "I don't think I've processed it. It's a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways. There's definitely days when I say 'why me', and then I go, 'well, why not me, who else besides me deserves this?' None of us do."
Now, in a devastating update to PEOPLE, Doherty has revealed that her cancer has spread to her bones.
She bravely told the outlet: "I don’t want to die."
Despite the revelation, Doherty is remaining positive, saying: "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 [...] I’m just not — I’m not done."
In total, the actress has been battling cancer for eight years, and even went into remission in 2017.
She now wants to use her platform to continue raising awareness about cancer - especially the fact that people with terminal cancer still have plenty to provide to the world - saying: "When you ask yourself, ‘Why me? Why did I get cancer?’ and then ‘Why did my cancer come back? Why am I stage 4?,’ that leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life."
"It’s insane to me [that] we still don’t have a cure," Doherty added.
She has also revealed that she will be launching a podcast called Let's Be Clear. "I will be opening up like never before in a series of brutally honest conversations with some very special and influential people in my life," she revealed in an Instagram post. "From former co-stars, to friends and family, to the brilliant doctors guiding me through my cancer journey...it's going to be a wild ride."
The Beverly Hills, 90210 actress was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, which had spread to her lymph nodes. She was later declared to be in remission in 2017 after having undergone a mastectomy as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
She revealed in February 2020 that the cancer had returned a year prior and was now stage four, and devastatingly revealed in June 2023 that it had spread to her brain.
"I am clearly trying to be brave but I am petrified," she said in a post to her fans at the time. "The fear was overwhelming to me. Scared of all possible bad outcomes, worried about leaving my mom and how that would impact her. Worried that I would come out of surgery not me anymore. This is what cancer can look like"
Back in September, the star took part in a panel with her 90210 co-stars, where she was honored with a standing ovation from the cast and fans, which left her overwhelmed with emotion and wiping away the tears.
"Thank you so much," she said, before joking: "You guys know how much I love crying constantly. And I do, it seems. So, thank you."
Back in April, she also filed for divorce from her husband Kurt Iswarienko after 12 years of marriage.
We wish Doherty the very best with her continued health journey at this time.
If you or somebody you know is struggling with a terminal illness, you can call the American Cancer Society support line on 1-800-227-2345 for emotional support and practical advice.
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