'90210' star Shannen Doherty, 52, fights for animal rights as she continues to fight her own battle with stage 4 breast cancer.
Published May 26, 2022
‘90210’ Star Shannen Doherty, 51, Denounces ‘Horse Slaughter:’ Stage 4 Cancer Survivor Decries Butchering Horses ‘For Human Consumption’
Staying Passionate During Stage 4 Cancer
90210 star Shannen Doherty, 52, has been fighting metastatic breast cancer, and also lives each and every day passionately fighting for animal rights.
In addition to her fight to help end horse slaughter, Doherty has also urged people to stop using poison to control rodent problems, saying that it’s affecting owls and other animals.
Stage 4, or metastatic breast cancer, means that your cancer has spread to distant areas of the body. Even though there is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer, doctors have many options to treat this stage advanced stage of breast cancer, and there is currently more hope with living with this disease.
Beverly Hills, 90210 star Shannen Doherty, 52, has been fighting metastatic breast cancer, and also lives each and every day passionately fighting for animal rights as well.
The nature-enthusiast, who lives in serene Malibu, Calif., recently teamed up with Horse Heroes Alliance through the non-profit Horses In Our Hands to help end horse slaughter.
“We have sent 210k emails to legislators asking them to support!” The organization wrote on their Instagram, featuring a collaborated post with Doherty. “Yesterday we sent over 1000 alone lets get to 5000 by tomorrow!!” They encourage others to do the same to help support these harmless, stunning creatures. “Demand your legislators save our beautiful American Horses from the horrible fate of brutal slaughter,” the website writes. “Last year alone, approximately 35,000 domestic and wild American horses were shipped to slaughter in Canada, Mexico and Asia where they were killed for human consumption.”
In addition to her fight to help end horse slaughter, Doherty has also urged people to stop using poison to control rodent problems, saying that it’s affecting owls and other animals.
"Hopefully seeing what rodent poison does to other animals like this owl, will help people find it in their heart to stop with the poison," the advocate says. "Thank you to @cawildlife for taking in so many animals that humans hurt #stopwithpoison." The video shows a sick owl getting treated via IV.
Doherty, who was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, announced that her cancer had returned at an advanced stage after going into remission in 2018. She has made it a commitment to live life with purpose, and that's exactly what she is doing by being a voice for animals.
The advocate also reposted a photo of a wolf in support of the non-profit organization IFAW, which improves conditions for animals and humans.
"We can fight this and we should," she said of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to remove federal protection for all gray wolves in the United States, aside from parts of Arizona and New Mexico.
Animals and Healing
It is often said that animals improve our quality of life, and that can especially be true for people battling cancer like Doherty. Though she has always been an advocate, her passion for animals gives her something to focus on and put her heart into each and every day.
We often need to keep going, and there have been studies showing the power of passion of positivity affecting the outcome of your disease. What still brings you joy? It’s important to do things to feed your emotional health just as much as your physical. For Doherty, it usually involves furry friends, but she also enjoys hanging out with other humans.
Understanding Stage 4 Breast Cancer
Stage 4, or metastatic breast cancer, means that your cancer has now spread to distant areas of the body. Even though there is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer, doctors have many options to treat this stage advanced stage of breast cancer.
Hormone therapy, chemotherapy and targeted drugs are all options to talk to her doctor about, depending on your individual needs. Sometimes surgery and/or radiation is considered as part of the treatment, but mainly it is important to focus on improving your quality of life.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer, but there are so many breast cancer survivors and people living with the disease today.The American Cancer Society reports that there were more than 3.8 million U.S. women with a history of breast cancer alive at the start of 2019. Some of the women were cancer-free, and others still had evidence of the disease, but they also reported that more than 150,000 breast cancer survivors were living with metastatic disease, three-fourths of whom were originally diagnosed with stage I-III. And with ongoing advancements in treatments and options out there today that can dramatically reduce symptoms, there are many reasons to be hopeful.Contributing by SurvivorNet staff.
Although Shannen Doherty's battle with cancer is ongoing, that's not preventing the beloved her from being a vocal advocate for animals
Published Nov 22, 2023
Shannen Doherty Helps Saves a Blind Horse With Cancer From Slaughter– As The 90210 Actress Battles Cancer, The Joyful Connection With Animals
Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Actress Shannen Doherty, 52, is currently battling stage four breast cancer, but she is thriving and working toward making the world a better place, one horse at a time. The animal activist recently revealed on social media that she helped save a blind horse with eye cancer from slaughter.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. It went into remission in 2017 but returned as stage 4 (or metastatic) in 2019. Metastatic cancer means the disease has spread to distant areas of the body, like the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. This year, her continued battle with cancer involved surgery and radiation.
Metastatic breast cancer also called “stage four” breast cancer means that the cancer has spread, or metastasized, beyond the breasts to other parts of the body. There is technically no cure, but advancements in treatments can dramatically improve outcomes and that is something to be hopeful for.
Remember, life doesn’t slow down for a cancer diagnosis, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. And living with stage four cancer doesn’t mean you should stop prioritizing your overall wellbeing and continuing to do the things you love.
Although “Beverly Hills, 90210” actress Shannen Doherty’s battle with metastatic breast cancer is ongoing, that’s not preventing the beloved 52-year-old from being a vocal advocate for animals—and most recently, saving the lives of two horses.
Doherty has been through a lot health wise as she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 after finding a lump in her breast that turned out to be cancerous. In February 2020, her breast cancer returned and spread to other parts of her body. Then, in January 2023, a CT scan showed revealed her cancer had spread to her brain, ultimately leading her to have surgery to remove a tumor in her brain and undergo radiation.
It’s incredible admirable to see Doherty putting her free time to help those without a voice and saving “at risk horses in need,” something the actress took to Instagram this week to celebrate.
@theshando
This week, Doherty reshared a celebratory posted from Believe Ranch and Rescue, of Santa Ynez, California, a horse rescue whose works to “rescue humans and horses through training, connection, and love.” “Our horses free humans from worry, anxiety, and depression. Working together, their ability to love and trust is restored,” the rescue’s mission statement reads.
Believe Ranch and Rescue wrote alongside their heartwarming footage of the horses, which was shared on Doherty’s Instagram story, “Remember the blind horse and her protector? They are now safe!
“Two more lives saved all thanks to the amazing @theshando who funded their rescue fees!!”
The footage was also posted on Believe Ranch and Rescue’s Instagram page, as well as Doherty’s.
It read: “RESCUE ALERT! A blind 4 year old half linger mare with eye cancer and her beautiful friend & protector an 8 yr old gelding we’re facing a horrible fate…until….When we saw this little blind mare being pushed around and in the slaughter pipeline with her friend we knew we HAD to do something immediately‼️
“It took a village and we made it happen! Cos we all need a good heart warming Thanksgiving story and this is one!”
The post, showing sweet video clips of the blonde-haired horses, continued, “These two beautiful angels are now safe and getting the medical care attention and love they so need! Their thanksgiving will be one to remember for us and for them thanks to a huge joint rescue effort!! So very grateful to all who made this happen @crawfordrachel & Kayla who got these two beautiful girls safe & to quarantine in Colorado!
“HUGE heroic shout out to the one and only @theshando who SAVED their lives!! What many of you may not know is the work Shannen does to help save so many lives! Working tirelessly behind the scenes saving so many at risk horses in need!”
A followup post on the rescue’s Instagram story added, “Safe thanks to @theshando for selflessly donating to save and take care of these babies.”
Animals and Healing
It is often said that animals improve our quality of life, and that can especially be true for people battling cancer like Doherty. Though she has always been an advocate, her passion for animals gives her something to focus on and put her heart into each and every day.
We often need to keep going, and there have been studies showing the power of passion of positivity affecting the outcome of your disease. What still brings you joy? It’s important to do things to feed your emotional health just as much as your physical. For Doherty, it usually involves furry friends, but she also enjoys hanging out with other humans.
It’s important to remember that life doesn’t slow down for a cancer diagnosis, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, our experts say that prioritizing your overall wellbeing and continuing to do the things you love, like how Doherty continues to save animals, can be very beneficial.
...
How to be Resilient in the Face of Adversity
Doherty’s ongoing health journey and recent divorce from her estranged husband of 11 years, Kurt Iswarienko, have both had an impact on strengthening her resilience in the face of adversity. She’s been hit with tough cancer treatments and a divorce this year alone. However, she’s still keeps an optimistic outlook on life.
Resilience is an important trait to have in the face of adversity such as cancer.
SurvivorNet spotlighted this important cancer-fighting trait in the film “Resilience,” now streaming on SurvivorNet. It follows the lives of three athletes who are living with a health challenge yet overcame adversity.
You can build resilience the way you build muscle, through patience and steady exercise of the skill. Here are some lessons taken from Fischer, Runkel, and Soller:
Be willing to learn. If one way doesn’t work, find a different way. If an obstacle lands in your way, build a path around it, or over it.
Spend time with people who inspire you.
Allow yourself to grieve. Don’t push away or dismiss your frustration and sadness. Give yourself grace when your emotions run high.
Be flexible. Understand there are multiple ways to accomplish a goal. If your original method does not work, find another.
Lean into your community. Consider using your support group made up of your friends, colleagues, and family.
Remember when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by a problem, their support can carry you.
It’s important to remember that battling cancer comes with a wife range of emotions. These can range from “anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation, and PTSD,” SurvivorNet expert and researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Shelly Tworoger, previously explained.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin also spoke SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, sharing some simple tips to help you maintain good mental health and reduce stress amid adversity.
When it comes to dealing with anxiety, Dr. Strongin says it’s important to have a healthy relationship with your anxiety and get to know it rather than fear it, avoid it, or push it away.
She explained, “By learning more about your anxious thoughts and tendencies, one can begin to answer their anxious thoughts even in moments when there aren’t any answers. For cancer patients, the worry thoughts tend to be, ‘Will I survive?’ It’s important to let those thoughts come in and really be able to tolerate them before answering them. This is a very powerful coping skill.”
Dr. Strongin suggests medications to help with anxiety and depression if other approaches are not as effective. She also urges cancer warriors to explore telemedicine.
Shannen Doherty, 52, is urging her fans to "take action" and support the "The SAFE Act to ban horse slaughter."
Updated March 11th, 2024
Crusading to Save Horses, Shannen Doherty Says ‘We Have To Speak For The Voiceless’
Helping Horses Amid Cancer
Beloved actress Shannen Doherty, 52, often takes to social media while battling stage 4 breast cancer. She recently shared a video of herself urging others to take action and stop horse slaughter, as well as the export of horses. Being able to help animals while dealing with one’s own health battle is incredibly inspirational. We admire Doherty’s kindness and empathy toward animals— both horses and dogs.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. It went into remission in 2017 but returned as stage 4 cancer in 2019.
Her breast cancer spread to her brain causing her to undergo surgery to remove a tumor in her brain. Since brain surgery, Doherty’s recovery appears to be going well and supporting animals in need.
Challenging oneself can actually help people facing cancer, chronic disease, or other problems to develop resilience, which is an essential coping tool. That process of pushing oneself to try new things is one of the “three wellsprings of vitality,” according to Dr. Samantha Boardman. The other two are connecting with others and contributing to the lives of people around you.
“Those are the cores of vitality, and the core pathways to enhance your everyday resilience,” Dr. Boardman explains.
As “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Shannen Doherty’s battle with metastatic breast cancer is ongoing, and so is her passion for animal rights. We’re admiring the beloved actress’s ability to focus her energy on animals in need, especially during her personal health journey and making time for her new podcast iHeart Radio podcast “Let’s Be Clear,” as well as spending time with friends and family.
The horse enthusiast was recently featured in an Instagram reel urging her fans to “take action” and contact your members of Congress to support the “The SAFE Act to ban horse slaughter.”
The video clip, posted to Doherty’s Instagram page and originally shared by the non profit organization Horses In Our Hands, shows the animal lover saying, “Each year, thousands of horses are shipped off to slaughter. It’s an unbelievably inhumane slaughter. “We don’t eat horse meat here in America, but people do dump their horses off so that they can go to Japan and Mexico and Canada. And they are often shipped without water, without food, and then slaughtered inhumanely.”
She continued, “Horses are sentiment beings. They love. They feel. Our personal horses, our pets, get such emotional attachments to us as we do to them. Our American wild horses. I mean, there’s poems written about the American wild horse. There’s books, there’s movies.
“When people think about American, they think about the cowboy. They think about the roundups. It’s just … and yet we’re not protecting them. Instead, we have government agencies that are rounding up our wild mustangs, our wild horses … putting them in pens, breaking them from their families, from their band. Fools, babies, they are rounding up. And they go to auction and kill buyers buy them. And these beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, once wild, once free sentient beings are then shipped off and brutally dismembered for human consumption.”
“I believe we’re at the point where we have to be responsible. We have to speak for the voiceless. We have to be their voices. The SAFE Act will do that,” Doherty said, before urging her followers to do anything they can in their efforts to reach out to legislators and fight for the cause.
Doherty also urged her fans to “do it for me” before telling them how her passion for horses began when she started riding when she was a kid.
She recounted when she auditioned for a 1985 American television miniseries called “Robert Kennedy and His Times,” and how she was asked if she rode horses and could jump, to which she responded, “Yes, just tell me how high.”
But she admitted that when she got the job she didn’t actually know how to ride a horse, so she leased a horse named Joey and learned how to ride.
“That horse became my best friend. I loved grooming him. I loved spending time. I would just walk with him and it was great. And then I just kept that going,” she added, noting how she’s had horses that have grown old and she doesn’t sell them off, but instead, puts them out to pasture, “where they are watched and vets come, and I care for them.”
Referring to another horse she had named Picasso, Doherty said he passed away from old age and had a “wonderful life” with her.
She concluded, “All horses deserve that life and all wild horses deserve to be wild. … Lets have the horses have their land and more importantly, lets stop shipping horses off for slaughter in foreign countries.
The Horses In Our Hands’ post reminds everyone to take action for this cause by using the link on their Instagram page to “send a letter urging your members of Congress to support the bipartisan SAFE Act -Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act (H.R. 3475 / S. 2037).”
The SAFE Act will “permanently ban horse slaughter in the United States” as U.S. Slaughter House inspecting has been defunded yearly by Congress since 2007.
Additionally, the act will “permanently ban the export of American horses to other countries for slaughter.”
In an earlier Instagram post, Doherty’s love for horses can be seen a photo she shared of a horse and an open grass field, writing alongside it, “Off the grid. Horses. Cattle. My soul is starting to feel rejuvenated again.
“Back when I’m back.. #mountainlife #ranchlife #nocellexceptforonemountaintop which I’ll avoid for rest of time here.”
In another photo shared on her Instagram page, Doherty is seen offering a carrot to a beautiful horse … and it’s the sweetest thing. We’re delighted to see her pushing forward and being the voice for the voiceless.
(@theshando/Instagram)
Animals and Healing
It is often said that animals improve our quality of life, and that can especially be true for people battling cancer like Doherty. Though she has always been an advocate, her passion for animals gives her something to focus on and put her heart into each and every day.
We often need to keep going, and there have been studies showing the power of passion of positivity affecting the outcome of your disease. What still brings you joy? It’s important to do things to feed your emotional health just as much as your physical. For Doherty, it usually involves furry friends, but she also enjoys hanging out with other humans.
It’s important to remember that life doesn’t slow down for a cancer diagnosis, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, our experts say that prioritizing your overall wellbeing and continuing to do the things you love, like how Doherty continues to save animals, can be very beneficial.
Dr. Geoffrey Oxnard, a thoracic oncologist, previously shared to SurvivorNet the three things he tells his lung cancer patients about living with the disease:
Don’t act sick “You can’t mope around,” he said. “Do things, and in doing things, you will stay active.”
Don’t lose weight “Eat what you need to do to not lose weight,” he said. “I like my patients pleasantly plump.”
Don’t be a tough guy “When you’ve got lung cancer, you need work with your doctor to keep your medical conditions under control.”
Shannen Doherty’s Cancer Battle
Shannen Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 after she discovered a lump in her breast. For treatments the first time around, she underwent hormone therapy, a single mastectomy (the removal of all breast tissue from one breast), chemotherapy and radiation.
Then in 2017, Doherty was deemed to be in remission, however, the cancer returned just two years later in 2019 as metastatic, or stage four, breast cancer.
This time, the cancer had spread to other parts of her body making it a metastatic, or stage four, cancer diagnosis.
It's great to see Shannen Doherty spending time with mom, Rosa Elizabeth Doherty, as she battles metastatic breast cancer.
Updated March 8th, 2024
‘Tennessee Girls’: Shannen Doherty, 52, Spends Quality Time With ‘Mama Rosa’ Outdoors Amid Advanced Breast Cancer Battle— The Healing Power of Nature
The Healing Power of Support & Nature Through Cancer Treatment
We’re happy to see Shannen Doherty, 52, enjoying the outdoors amid her advanced breast cancer battle, alongside her loving and supportive mom Rosa Elizabeth Doherty, 76.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. It went into remission in 2017 but returned as stage 4 cancer in 2019. Her breast cancer has since spread to her brain causing her to undergo surgery to remove a tumor in her brain.
Metastatic breast cancer, also called “stage four” breast cancer, means that the cancer has spread, or metastasized, beyond the breasts to other parts of the body. There is technically no cure, but advancements in treatments can dramatically improve outcomes and that is something to be hopeful for.
Supporting a friend or loved one with cancer can be hard. SurvivorNet suggests offering concrete ways to show the cancer warrior you care, allowing them to talk through their negative emotions with you, cooking them a healthy meal that they’ll enjoy, doing activities with them that will lift their spirits and working to better understand their diagnosis if you’re taking on more of a full-time caregiver role.
We’ve all heard that nature has healing powers in the past. SurvivorNetTV’s “Between Two Harbors” looks into how time spent outdoors and around water can truly help people to recover after dealing with difficult cancer treatments.
Going through a cancer journey with loved ones by your side can be a powerful tool when fighting cancer. So, it’s great to see Shannen Doherty, 52, spending time with her supportive 76-year-old mom, Rosa Elizabeth Doherty, as she battles metastatic breast cancer.
Doherty, known for playing Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and as Prue Halliwell on “Charmed,” has been battling stage 4 (metastatic) breast cancer since 2019 and revealed earlier this year that cancer had spread to her brain. Despite the challenges she’s faced, including getting divorces from her estranged husband Kurt Iswarienko, the iconic actress always enjoys quality time with her mom.
(@theshando/Instagram)
Doherty shared a heartwarming photo this week of her with her mom, Rosa Elizabeth Doherty, enjoying the outdoors and wearing hats representing Nashville and Tennessee. We’re delighted to see “Mama Rosa” alongside her daughter throughout her ongoing battle with metastatic breast cancer. “Tennessee girls,” Doherty captioned the post, which featured the Memphis, Tennessee, native standing close to her mom. Other photos she shared revealed they were near bulls, haystacks, an open grass field, and even a zebra.
As for the hat Doherty was wearing, it reads, “Leiper’s Fork – Nashville’s Big Back Yard.” Leiper’s Fork is a rural village in Williamson County, Tennessee.
Along side the scenery photo, which Doherty also shared on her Instagram story, the “Charmed” star confirmed the photos were taken in Tennessee, writing on her story, “Awe Tennessee. Forever have my heart.”
(@theshando/Instagram)
According to one of Doherty’s fans, there are Zebras on a nearby farm in Tennessee. The fan commented, “Yes, not far from Leiper’s Fork is a farm that has a couple of zebras that run around!”
Another fan replied, “I looked it up after and saw there is a little safari park area there. Looks nice!”
Other fans of Doherty offered some inspirational words, with one commenting, “I think of you almost daily. Profound strength in the face of cancer. You amaze me!”While a fourth wrote, “Ae so lovely. Mommy & Daughter. Enjoy your precious time together. You deserve all the HAPPINESS Shannen. Love you!!”
(@theshando/Instagram)
This isn’t the first time Doherty has taken to social media to share some sweet memories made with her mom. Back in August, 2022, Doherty shared a sweet video clip of her dancing with her mom at home, with the captioned, “How to man handle your mother.”
Then, on Mother’s Day last year, Doherty shared another image of her and her mom alongside each other, writing, “Happy Mother’s Day to this amazing, strong, loving mom. I love you so much @themamarosa see you soon mom!”
More recently, on her mom’s 76th birthday on December 4, 2023, Doherty shared yet another heartwarming photo of the mother-daughter duo saying, “Happy birthday to the best mom in the world. I love you to the moon and back times infinity.”
(@theshando/Instagram)
The Power of Nature
We’ve all heard that nature has healing powers in the past. SurvivorNetTV’s “Between Two Harbors” looks into how time spent outdoors and around water can truly help people to recover after dealing with difficult cancer treatments.
...
Shannen Doherty’s Breast Cancer Battle
Shannen Doherty first received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 after she discovered a lump in her breast. For treatments the first time around, she underwent hormone therapy, a single mastectomy (the removal of all breast tissue from one breast), chemotherapy and radiation.
Then in 2017, Doherty was deemed to be in remission, however, the cancer returned just two years later in 2019. This time, her diagnosis was metastatic, or stage four, breast cancer.
Shannen Doherty originally made a name for herself playing Brenda Walsh on ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’
There is technically no cure for metastatic breast cancer, but that doesn’t mean people can’t live good, long lives with this stage of disease, thanks to hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drugs and immunotherapy, as well as a combination of treatments.
Doherty took to Instagram at the start of last year to recap how her cancer fight is going. She underwent her first round of radiation to her head on Jan. 12, 2023, followed by brain surgery to remove and biopsy a tumor on Jan. 16, 2023. The surgery she underwent is called a craniotomy.
“It’s a procedure to cut out a tumor and it can be metastasized or a tumor that started someplace else like the breasts and went to the brain especially if the tumor is causing symptoms or if it’s large,” Dr. Kimberly Hoang, a board-certified neurosurgeon at Emory University School of Medicine, explained.
Several neurosurgeons tell SurvivorNet that the procedure can allow patients with cancer in their brain to live longer, more vibrant lives, and this appears to be the case with Doherty seen smiling this weekend during her mom’s birthday celebrations.
“A couple of decades ago, to have a brain metastasis was a very bad prognosis for patients. They didn’t live for more than a couple of months, so it was a very terminal thing. Thanks to a lot of advancements in microsurgery we do and radiation, patients are living longer,” Dr. Hoang said.
Being There for Cancer Survivors
It is important cancer warriors in the midst of their fight to have a strong support system. So how can you support a loved on in your life who is fighting cancer? SurvivorNet suggests multiple ways you can do so.
Dr. Shelly Tworoger, a researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center told SurvivorNet that “there’s a number of common things cancer patients can experience, such as anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation and sometimes even PTSD.”
So helping to ease those feelings is a great way to support your loved one.
You can help complete household chores or running errands during the day, which your loved one may not have the time or energy to do. Or, you can simply lend an ear so patients can talk through their feelings, which can help them cope with what they are experiencing during this difficult time.
Meanwhile, there are some practical tips to help you interact with your loved one in a meaningful way. Our experts suggest to avoid asking “how you can help.” Instead, be proactive and offer tangible things you can do for them to make their lives easier. That could include bringing them food, cooking them dinner or playing a board game with them, anything that will bring them joy.
You may also be interested in sending them gifts to help them through their cancer journey. Our gift guide for cancer patients offers several suggestions for meaningful items you can give your loved one, such as bubble bath supplies for a night of self care or a nice, warm blanket for comfort during a chemo session.
Five Ways You Can Support Someone with Cancer
No matter what role you play, it can be very tough to know what to do when someone you care about is diagnosed with cancer. To help get you started, below are some ways to offer support to your loved ones with cancer.
Avoid asking, try doing. Although it’s understandable to not know how to best support your loved one during their cancer journey, it can be equally as hard for them to voice exactly what they need or want from you. Instead of always asking, “How can I help you?” maybe try saying something more concrete like, “Hey, can I come over at 8? I’ll bring Monopoly.” If you offer specific ways to support rather than ask for things they need, it’s likely to come across as more genuine and feel easier for them to accept the support or help.
Stay in touch, but don’t say stupid things. You might never be able to truly understand the battle your loved one is facing, but being a person they feel comfortable talking through some of their negative emotions with can make a big difference. That being said, breast cancer survivor Catherine Gigante-Brown says there are some topics you might want to avoid.” Don’t burden us with stories about your Great Aunt Harriet who had breast cancer,” she previously told SurvivorNet. “And then you say, ‘Oh how’s she doing? And then they’ll say, ‘Oh, she passed away.’ We don’t need to hear the horror stories.”
Offer to cook them a meal. Consider inviting them over for dinner, dropping off a special dish, or, if that’s not possible, sending a gift basket with some pick-me-up goodies. If you’ re able to cook for them, perhaps try to make a healthy meal that will bring them joy. Remember that there’s no specialized diet that has been found to fight cancer, but it’s always a good idea to maintain a moderate diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, as well as fats and proteins. No matter what, it’s the simple gesture of providing a meal that will make them feel loved and supported.
Try helping them find joy. There’s no one right way to do it, but try to think of activities you can do with your loved one that will lift them up. It could be something as simple as watching a funny TV series together, having a wine and paint night, taking a drive to a beautiful place or starting a book club with them. We’ve seen in previous studies that patients with better emotional health have a better quality of life when going through treatment and actually tend to live longer than those with worse emotional well-being. Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, says “better quality of life is associated with better survival, better outcomes, and having a good social network can be very helpful.”
Be involved. If you’ve take on more of a full-time caregiving role, work to understand your loved one’s diagnosis and help them follow the instructions from the cancer-care team. “I encourage caregivers to come in to visits with my patients, because in that way, the caregiver is also listening to the recommendations – what should be done in between these visits, any changes in treatment plans, any toxicities [side effects] that we need to look out for, changes in dietary habits, exercise, etc.,” Dr. Jayanthi Lea, a gynecologic oncologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
The Benefit of Emotional Support
Having a level of emotional support, like Doherty has from her beloved mom, during a cancer battle is irreplaceable. For those of us lucky enough to still have our mothers and close family members with us, we may want to pick up the phone and remind them how special they are.
Going through cancer can be difficult at almost every stage and so understanding how to mange the flood of emotions that come with diagnosis and treatment is important.
Whether or not you have a support system at home, it may be a good idea to seek counseling when dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Often you can find a social worker through your cancer center, and they can help you through this process. It’s exceptionally important to remember to take care of your mental health, as well as your physical.Social Worker Sarah Stapleton suggested in an earlier conversation with SurvivorNet doing two to three counseling sessions before making the decision if it is, or isn’t, right for you. Going to counseling with a spouse, friend, or family member can be equally, if not even more, beneficial.
Moms & Supportive Family Through Cancer
Like actress Shannen Doherty, many people find that spending time with loved ones, like their parents, partners, or children, is helpful during a cancer battle. In an earlier interview, ovarian cancer survivor Beverly Reeves stresses how critical it is to have a supportive, loving community guiding you during your cancer battle.Reeves tells SurvivorNet, “If I had one piece of advice for someone who had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it would be to get a strong support group together. Get your close friends. If you’re connected to a faith community, get your faith community.”
“Get your family,” says Reeves. “Let them know what’s going on and let them help you. And sometimes that’s the most difficult thing to do, but just know that they are there. If they love you, they’re there to help you. And don’t be embarrassed.”She continues, “Because this is a cancer that not a lot of people want to talk about. But it’s real and we need to talk about it, and we do need that help.“So talk to your family and your friends and your faith community, and get that network together so they can support you and be there for you.”
As we mourn the loss of Shannen Doherty, we're reminded how there's still so much more progress needed on metastatic breast cancer research.
Every Sunday, for ShandoSunday, because it's the 1st year since Shannen left us, I'll be sharing more articles about her, how she inspired others when she suffered breast cancer. This is the first one, there's a bunch of them.
Published Jul 16, 2024
‘Stage Four Needs More’: Metastatic Breast Cancer Requires Dramatically More Research Investment Say Advocates Mourning ‘90210’ Actress Shannen Doherty Battled
Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer
90% of woman with breast cancer are living thanks to early detection and new treatments. Despite the progress, metastatic, or breast cancer that has spread in the body, is still incurable.
The actress Shannen Doherty passed over the weekend from late stage breast cancer at age 53. Her passing is another reminder that there is still so much more progress needed on metastatic breast cancer research.
Doherty battled breast cancer since 2015. Although the cancer went into remission in 2017, it returned as stage 4 cancer in 2019, meaning it has spread to other body parts, including her brain. She underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor last year. She embarked on a new round of chemotherapy prior to her passing over the weekend.
Dr. Kenneth D. Miller, medical oncologist at the Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, tells SurvivorNet, “Metastatic breast cancer is a treatable disease. Fortunately, we have so many new treatments for women with recurrent breast cancer and for many women who look at this as a chronic disease that they can live with ‘often for many years.’ Still, this type of breast cancer is incurable and needs dramatically more research and much better options for women.”
While treatment for metastatic breast cancer is not curative, it can improve your quality of life. You and your doctor will work together to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.
For help finding a clinical trial that’s right for you, try our easy-to-use Clinical Trial Finder.
As we mourn the loss of resilient ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ actress Shannen Doherty, who passed away over the weekend from late stage breast cancer at age 53, we’re reminded how there’s still so much more progress needed on metastatic breast cancer research.
Doherty battled breast cancer since 2015. Although the cancer went into remission in 2017, it came back as stage four metastatic breast cancer in 2019, meaning it has spread to other body parts, including her brain. She underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor last year and started a new round of chemotherapy treatment this summer before she passed.
Although much has been done in the fight against breast cancer, a falsehood exists that the disease has solved—as there’s still no known cure for metastatic breast cancer, a late-stage form of the disease in which cancer cells have spread past the breast to other organs in the body. Thankfully, organizations like METAvivor, is dedicated to funding research for stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, and TNBC Thrivers, an organization supporting those in the triple negative breast cancer community.
The 'Beverly Hills, 90210' actress and pop culture icon lost her fight to metastatic breast cancer on July 13, 2024 at age 53.
Published Aug 1, 2024
The Cancer Community Says After The Loss of Shannen Doherty, It’s Important To Keep Going- A Legacy of Bravery
The 'Beverly Hills, 90210' star candidly shared about her day-to-day fight with metastatic breast cancer up until the end.
By Marissa Sullivan.
An Inspirational Icon
The loss of Shannen Doherty, who died on July 13 of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at age 53, affected fans and loved ones from around the world, and the cancer community was hit particularly hard by this profound loss.
The Beverly Hills, 90210 actress gave people hope, and despite her passing — which can be especially devastating for other late stage survivors, it’s important to keep going in her honor and not give up that hope that she instilled.
After the death of a loved one or someone you looked up to, it’s key to remember that grief may look different for everyone. The stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. These stages can also occur in any order.
As far as your own cancer journey, don’t give up. There are more and more options becoming available for patients to manage symptoms of advanced stage disease, and it’s best to talk about specific treatment plans and what is best for you with your own doctor.
The loss of Shannen Doherty, who died on July 13 of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at age 53, affected fans and loved ones from around the world, and the cancer community was hit particularly hard by this profound loss.
The Beverly Hills, 90210 star gave people hope, and despite her passing — which can be exceptionally heavy on other late stage survivors, it’s important to keep going and not lose faith in your own journey.
Doherty was over four years into her advanced stage diagnosis and had gained a powerful voice in the health space with her Let’s Be Clear podcast, holding nothing back as she aired out past personal struggles in her career and love live, and candidly spoke of her day-to-day fight.
Actress Shannen Doherty became a household name after starring in hit shows like ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘Charmed.’ “This is what I am currently facing. #cancer #life,” Doherty captioned what would be her last video post.
The day the world woke up to the tragic news, comments came pouring in on Instagram for the late pop culture icon.
“Rest in peace. I’m donating to metavivor today in your honor,” one fan commented, while actress Selma Blair shared: “Thank you for showing us how to keep going.”
CEO Alana Stewart — who runs the Farrah Fawcett Foundation in honor of her late best friend’s cancer mission — wrote, “God bless you, you’re an amazing inspiration.”
How to Cope After Losing a Loved One to Cancer
After the death of a loved one or someone you looked up to, it’s key to remember that grief may look different for everyone.
Everyone is entitled to their feelings, and yes, the emotions are real, even if you consider yourself “just a fan.”
The stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. These stages can also occur in any order.
The time it takes to navigate these stages can also vary, so giving yourself grace and patience is essential while navigating your feelings.
“It often gets better over time, but on certain days, it can look like depression, and on other days, people look perfectly normal and can function,” Dr. Scott Irwin, a board-certified psychiatrist and Director of Supportive Care Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
‘Grief Comes in Waves’
Dr. Irwin added that grieving people are coming to terms with “the change in their life; the future they had imagined is now different.”
SurvivorNet also had a prior conversation with Megan Newcomer, who lost a close friend to metastatic cancer in 2018. She shared her unique way of coping with grief.
Newcomer’s friend was an athlete and soccer player, so to help her cope, she embarked on a marathon race in his honor, and advises others grieving to first “acknowledge your feelings.”
Shannen Doherty was a passionate animal rights activist. Courtesy of Instagram/Shannen Doherty
“Then, think about a way that you could honor the person through a mechanism that is meaningful to you,” she continued. “So that can be artwork, music, or developing a financial fundraising project. It could be something very simple, but I do think having it be intentional is what you’re doing to help honor this person.”
In a column for SurvivorNet, New York-based clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin expressed that it may be helpful to remind yourself that these feelings are “meaningful yet temporary.”
“If you approach them with compassion, kindness, and eventually acceptance, you will come away from this period in your life more connected to your resilience and strength,” Dr. Strongin added.
Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer
Stage 4, or metastatic breast cancer, means that the cancer has spread to distant areas of the body. Even though there is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer, doctors have many options to treat this advanced stage of breast cancer.
Hormone therapy, chemotherapy and targeted drugs are all options to talk to her doctor about, depending on your individual needs. Sometimes surgery and/or radiation is considered as part of the treatment, but mainly it is important to focus on improving your quality of life.
Dr. Erica Mayer, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, says clinical trials have shown that hormone medicines are more effective when paired with targeted therapies. At some point, chemotherapy will be introduced. And according to Dr. Mayer, it’s delivered at a dose and schedule that’s as well-tolerated as possible.
“We are so lucky in breast cancer that we have so many effective and well-tolerated treatments,” Dr. Mayer previously told SurvivorNet. I’m so gratified to see that patients are doing better and living longer today with metastatic breast cancer than they have ever done before.”
Bottom line, there are more and more options becoming available for patients to manage symptoms of advanced stage disease, and it’s best to talk about specific treatment plans and what is best for you with your own doctor.
Treating Metastatic Breast Cancer
With metastatic breast cancer, the primary goal of treatment is to control its spread. SurvivorNet offers information about what those options are from targeted therapies to chemotherapy and when these various treatment options can be used.
We also provide information on new, exciting research that is currently being tested in clinical trials and information about when recently approved drugs, like immunotherapies, can be used.
For help finding a clinical trial that may be right for you or a loved one, try our easy-to-use Clinical Trial Finder.
While there have been many developments in recent years when it comes to treating late-stage breast cancer, which therapies can be used will depend on the characteristics of the patient’s cancer.
What are the treatment options for late-stage breast cancer?
“Metastatic breast cancer is a treatable disease,” Dr. Kenneth D. Miller, medical oncologist at the Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore shared in a pior interview with SurvivorNet.
“Fortunately, we have so many new treatments for women with recurrent breast cancer and for many women who look at this as a chronic disease that they can live with — often for many years.”
*****
RELATED: ‘Stage Four Needs More’: Metastatic Breast Cancer Requires Dramatically More Research Investment’ Say Advocates Mourning ‘90210’ Actress Shannen Doherty
RELATED: For Patients, The Inspiration of a Famous Actress And Her Quest to Make Sure Her Affairs Were in Order — Mourning Shannen Doherty
RELATED: Crusading to Save Horses, Shannen Doherty Says ‘We Have To Speak For The Voiceless’
RELATED: ‘Not Done Living & Loving’ Said Actress Shannen Doherty– She Placed Hope In Experimental Drug Trials To Treat Metastatic Breast Cancer
Actress Shannen Doherty, 52, launched a new podcast that will partly chronicle her metastatic breast cancer journey. She remains positive an
Published Nov 29, 2023
“Not Done Living & Loving” Says Actress Shannen Doherty, 52– She’s Placing Hope In Experimental Drug Trials To Treat Metastatic Breast Cancer
Clinical Trials Offer Hope for Patients
Brave and resilient actress Shannen Doherty, 52, launched a new podcast that will partly chronicle her metastatic breast cancer journey. She remains positive and has since explored clinical trials to aid her cancer journey and subsequent treatment.
Clinical trials help doctors better understand cancer and discover more effective treatment methods. They also allow patients to try a treatment before it’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which can be life-changing.
Despite the benefits of clinical trials, they also come with risks (like potential side effects that are not fully understood yet). People interested in participating in clinical trials must first talk with their doctor to see if they would be a good fit.
In 2015, Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer. It went into remission in 2017 but returned as stage 4 cancer in 2019. Her breast cancer spread to her brain, causing her to undergo surgery to remove a tumor in her brain. Since brain surgery, Doherty’s recovery appears to be going well as social media posts by the beloved actress show her in good spirits, surrounded by loved ones.
For help finding a clinical trial that’s right for you, try our easy-to-use Clinical Trial Finder.
In an extraordinary new interview, Actress Shannen Doherty, 52, talks about her mortality and will to live as she deals with advanced breast cancer. The actress, who rose to fame on the hit show “Beverly Hills 90210” is launching a new podcast called “Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty,” which chronicles part of her professional and personal life. She says a huge chunk of her content will revolve around her emotional cancer journey that has consumed her life since 2015. However, despite the challenges cancer has brought into her life, she says her greatest memory has yet to come.
Actress Shannen Doherty was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer.
“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,” Doherty said in an interview with People Magazine.
“My greatest memory is yet to come,” she added. Doherty’s life and career have been nothing short of extraordinary. She was a regular cast member on the 1990s teen TV hit show “Beverly Hills 90210.” She portrayed Brenda Walsh on the show, which is centered around a group of teenage friends living in Beverly Hills, California, navigating high school and college. Doherty’s award-winning acting career began in the early 1980s. Aside from “Beverly Hills 90210” which helped make her a household name, she also starred in “Charmed” during the 1990s. Then, years later, in 2015, a lump in her breast led to a breast cancer diagnosis, and thus, her cancer journey began, which still demonstrates her strength and resilience today despite the cancer spreading to her brain.
“People just assume that it means you can’t walk, you can’t eat, you can’t eat, you can’t work. They put you out to pasture at a very early age,” she said of some broad assumptions about cancer patients.
“We’re vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work and, embrace life and keep moving forward…We’re the people who want to work the most, because we’re just so grateful for every second, every hour, every day we get to be here,” she continued.
Doherty revealed she’s exploring clinical trials with hopes of finding a new treatment to aid her on her metastatic breast cancer journey. To learn more about clinical trials for breast cancer, check out SurvivorNet’s Patient Pathfinder.
Clinical Trials Offer Hope, but They’re Not for Everyone
Studies of new treatment options are called clinical trials, and they are an essential part of medicine for two reasons:
Clinical trials help doctors better understand cancer and discover more effective treatment methods.
They also allow patients to try a treatment before it’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which can be life-changing.
Dr. Beth Karlan is a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Health. She says the goal with clinical trials is to advance cancer research to a point where the disease becomes akin to diabetes, where it becomes a manageable condition.“Clinical trials hopefully can benefit you, but is also providing very, very vital information to the whole scientific community about the effectiveness of these treatments,” Dr. Karlan said.“They can be lifesaving. In the last few years, we’ve seen many children and adults who have participated in trials and had miraculous results,” Dr. Karlan continued.
Understanding the Process Behind Clinical Trials
Within the U.S., all new drugs must go through clinical trials before the FDA approves them. Although the rewards of clinical trials can be great, they also come with risks. Talking to your doctor about this before enrolling in a trial is important. Some risks to consider include:
The risk of harm and side effects due to experimental treatments
Researchers may be unaware of some potential side effects of experimental treatments
The treatment may not work for you, even if it has worked for others
Before you enroll in a trial, you must be allowed to read the consent documents thoroughly and to ask any questions you may have. The documents will likely contain the following:
The purpose of the research
Any risks and benefits expected from the research
Information about procedures that may cause discomfort (like frequent blood tests)
Any alternative procedures the patient might consider instead
How the patient’s information will be kept private
How long the study is expected to take
A form confirming you are participating in research voluntarily
Whether any compensation or additional medical care is available if some injury occurs
The patient’s rights (like the right to stop research in the middle of the trial)
Contacts for any patient questions
Patients are allowed to walk away at any time during the trial. Understanding your rights as a voluntary patient is important before you participate in a clinical trial, and understanding that the treatment may not work is also crucial.
...
Doherty’s Mighty Cancer Journey
Shannen Doherty’s initial breast cancer diagnosis arrived in 2015 after she discovered a lump in her breast. For treatment, she had hormone therapy, a single mastectomy (the removal of all breast tissue from one breast), chemotherapy, and radiation.
In 2017, she achieved remission status, but the disease returned two years later in 2019. This time around, her breast cancer was metastatic, or stage 4.
Shannen Doherty has become a public advocate for screenings and general awareness around breast cancer.
Having metastatic breast cancer means the cancer has spread, or metastasized, beyond the breasts to other parts of the body. It often spreads to the bones, liver, and lungs, but it can also spread to places like the brain.
With advanced disease, treatment aims to keep you as stable as possible, slow the tumor growth, and improve your quality of life.
Doherty’s cancer then spread, or metastasized, to her brain. As a result, she’s undergone both radiation and surgery in the form of a craniotomy to improve her prognosis.
Shannen Doherty is battling metastatic breast cancer, which spread to her brain earlier this year (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
As cancer treatments improve year over year, so does the number of people battling this form of cancer that spreads to the brain, says Dr. Michael Lim, who is the Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in brain tumors at Stanford Medicine.
According to Dr. Kimberly Hoang, a board-certified neurosurgeon at Emory University School of Medicine, a craniotomy procedure like Doherty underwent earlier this year is “a procedure to cut out a tumor” on the brain that may be particularly useful “if the tumor is causing symptoms or if it’s large.”
Since undergoing brain surgery, Doherty has focused on enjoying precious time with loved ones as she continues battling stage 4 cancer.
Shannen Daughter passed away on June 13, 2025— reportedly just one day after settling her divorce with her former husband, Kurt Iswarienko.
Updated July 19th, 2024
For Patients, The Inspiration of a Famous Actress And Her Quest to Make Sure Her Affairs Were in Order– Mourning Shannen Doherty
Strength Through Cancer & Divorce
Shannen Daughter passed away from metastatic breast cancer on June 13, 2025—just one day after reportedly settling her divorce with her former husband, Kurt Iswarienko.
Some details into her divorce settlement were reported after her passing, with Fox News Digital saying that legal papers stated, “It is the mutual wish and desire of the parties” to finalize the issue.
Before Doherty’s passing, the beloved actress endured on going cancer treatment and stress from her divorce, however, she remained hopeful and grateful for all that she had despite adversity.
Cancer patients oftentimes find themselves navigating a wide range of emotions that impact their mental health. When it comes to dealing with anxiety and stress, psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin says it’s important to have a healthy relationship with your anxiety and get to know it rather than fear it, avoid it, or push it away.
Late actress Shannen Daughter, who is remembered for her ongoing resilience and strength through an arduous metastatic breast cancer journey, passed away on June 13, 2025—just one day after settling her divorce with her former husband, Kurt Iswarienko.
The finalization of her divorce, as per court documents obtained by PEOPLE, was done on July 12, 2025, when Doherty signed a filing to waive spousal support. Doherty, known for her memorable acting roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Charmed,” and “Fortress,” ultimately consented to a “default or uncontested dissolution” of her and Iswarienko’s marriage, meaning they both chose to put an end to their divorce not before the court.
As per Fox News Digital, who also obtained the documents, said the legal papers states, “It is the mutual wish and desire of the parties to effect a full, complete, and final settlement of all their respective property interests, future and present, by this Judgment, and, except as otherwise set forth herein, to irrevocably adjust and determine forever all legal obligations of any nature which may exist with respect to one another and by reason of their marriage, and to fully and completely resolve any and all issues relating to division of property, reimbursement claims and/or credits, spousal support, and attorneys’ fees and costs.” Fox News Digital also noted that Doherty was granted “full ownership, title and interest in her property in western Malibu, in addition to three vehicles and four bank accounts.” Additionally, the news outlet reported that she obtained all of her “community property interest in retirement assets for her Screen Actor’s Guild pension plan.”
Iswarienko was also reported to be in charge of buying the late actress’ interest in their shared Mooney-20 Airplane “for the sum of $100,000” in one payment, five days after their Camarillo Hangar is sold.
Lastly, other property to be sold with split proceeds was their Texas residence and some of Iswarienko’s photographic work [a catalog] made amid their marriage.
Iswarienko was needed to remove photos of Doherty from his website and was forbidden to “exploiting the photographs,” as per the reported documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
As for Doherty’s cancer journey, she was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 after she discovered a lump in her breast. She underwent hormone therapy, a single mastectomy (the removal of all breast tissue from one breast), chemotherapy and radiation.Then in 2017, she was declared in remission, however, the cancer returned just two years later in 2019, as metastatic breast cancer.
Then at the start of 2023, Doherty, she revealed the cancer had spread to her brain and she underwent her first round of radiation to her head, followed by brain surgery to remove and biopsy a tumor on Jan. 16, 2023. And just weeks before Doherty’s passing on June 13, 2025, the late actress revealed she was diving into the unknown and starting a new round of chemo because her body had become immune to prior treatment and her cancer cells had adapted.
Doherty’s publicist Leslie Sloane, informed the public on June 13, 2025, “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty …
“The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
How Actress Shannen Doherty’s Diagnosis Impacted Her Relationship
Doherty no doubt endured an emotional roller, especially following her divorce her former husband Kurt Iswarienko after undergoing major cancer surgery.
Just last year, Doherty underwent brain surgery due to metastatic breast cancer spreading to her head in January. Four months later, she filed for divorce from Iswarienko.
According to People Magazine, Doherty and Iswarienko separated in January 2023, although Doherty’s representative said, “Divorce is the last thing Shannen wanted.”
The representative also claimed at the time that, “The split has taken a toll on Doherty’s cancer battle.”
Referring to another struggle in her life on the June 24 episode, on how she had to start back up on a new chemotherapy treatment, Doherty added, “It’s a little scary, I know that I’m slowly going to lose my hair again, which is horrible. This is going to be the third time I’ve lost my hair.
“And to just be walking into the unknown .. .I just feel like my life has been unknown for over a year now, between divorce and cancer.”
Doherty concluded her podcast by tell her listeners how determined she was to continue fighting the disease to have more time with loved ones and urging others to have more respect to for those in the public private and their private matters, like divorce.
Meanwhile, RadarOnline reported that Iswarienko said, at the time, that the couple married in October 2011 and that the date of their separation was to be determined.According to divorce papers, Doherty reportedly claimed “irreconcilable differences” as the reason she and Iswarienko were divorcing. She also asked for spousal support from her former husband.During a recent episode of her “Lets Be Clear With Shannen Doherty,” podcast, Doherty explained, “Obviously, divorce is not easy, especially when you really loved someone. And I did love my husband. And when you get so hurt by their actions that you just feel betrayed and like a sucker, it’s really hard.“But also, because I’m going through a lot of health stuff … as you know, I’m going through stage four cancer, which is at this point is not curable, but protocols stop working, your body adjusts to them, becomes immune to them, your cells change, your cancer cells adapt, the molecular makeup of them changes and then you have to go to a different protocol. But before you even realized what’s happened, your cancer progresses.”
Managing Your Mental Health in the Face of a Health Challenge or Major Life Change
It’s only natural for health challenges and divorce have some sort of effect on one’s mental health. Although Doherty appeared to be coping well with all the changes leading up to her death, it’s important to note that the diagnosis of a cancer or disease or some external stressor like a troubled relationship can offset your mental health in ways you least expect.
Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet that emotions will be fluid when facing a diagnosis. SurvivorNet has some tips to help keep your mental and emotional health in a good space if you find yourself coping with a stressful situation.
The National Institute of Mental Health advises to seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted two weeks or more, such as:
Trouble sleeping
Changes in appetite
Struggling to leave bed in the morning because of your mood
Trouble concentrating
Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
Inability to perform normal daily functions and responsibilities
Equally as important is recognizing the value of self-care. The National Institute of Mental Health offers practical guidance on how to boost your weekly self-care routine.
Regularly exercising
Eating healthy, regular meals
Staying hydrated
Prioritizing sleep
Exploring relaxation programs or techniques
Setting goals/priorities
Staying positive
Connecting with others
Battling cancer comes with a ton of emotions. These can range from “anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation, and PTSD,” SurvivorNet expert and researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center Dr. Shelly Tworoger says.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin also shared some simple tips to help you maintain good mental health and reduce stress amid adversity.
When it comes to dealing with anxiety, Dr. Strongin says it’s important to have a healthy relationship with your anxiety and get to know it rather than fear it, avoid it, or push it away.
Dr. Strongin explained, “By learning more about your anxious thoughts and tendencies, one can begin to answer their anxious thoughts even in moments when there aren’t any answers. For cancer patients, the worry thoughts tend to be, ‘Will I survive?’
“It’s important to let those thoughts come in and really be able to tolerate them before answering them. This is a very powerful coping skill.”
Dr. Strongin suggests medications to help with anxiety and depression if other approaches are not as effective. She also urges cancer warriors to explore telemedicine.
How to Support a Partner with Cancer
Feelings of “helplessness, lack of control, guilt, anger, embarrassment” are some common emotions parents, siblings, and other relatives within the household of someone battling a health condition may experience, according to researchers.MacMillan Cancer Support, a charity that advocates for cancer patients, says communication is a vital tool in helping support a partner with cancer, and it could help a couple understand each other better.“It can help to ask your partner what support they would like and find useful. This makes sure you help where it is most wanted and needed. It can also help you avoid misunderstandings,” the charity said.
Communicating your feelings is something licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin also believes is vital to helping couples dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Strongin adds that people faced with cancer should “surround [themselves] with individuals who care and support [them]” throughout treatment while also acknowledging their limits on what they can handle.
“Going through [cancer] treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience,” Dr. Strongin wrote in a column for SurvivorNet. “Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much [is] extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you find yourself struggling with a diagnosis or helping a loved one cope with their emotions, consider asking your doctor the following questions:
How can I go about improving my outlook/mental health?
Are there any activities I can do to encourage positive feelings?
When should I seek other interventions if I’m still struggling?
What are the steps to finding a different therapist if the one I’m using is not working out?
