It was important to Shannen Doherty to make the most of every moment of her existence.
Before she passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2023, at the age of 53, the actress revealed in a cover story for PEOPLE that she had previously expressed her desire to “embrace life” despite the fact that she was battling cancer.
Leslie Sloane, who had been Doherty’s publicist for several years, sent an exclusive statement to PEOPLE on Sunday, July 14, confirming that she had passed away.
I am saddened to inform you that actress Shannen Doherty has passed away. I am saying this with a heavy heart. On Saturday, July 13, she passed away after a long and courageous struggle against cancer. She had been battling the sickness for many years,” she stated. The beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend was encircled by her loved ones, including her dog, Bowie. She was also surrounded by her friends. Please respect the family’s request for privacy at this difficult time so that they may mourn in peace.
Find here the archived version of the cover article that Doherty wrote for People magazine in 2023.
As she opens up about her Stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to her bones on the set of her PEOPLE cover shoot four days before Thanksgiving, Shannen Doherty, who is best known for her roles on the hit television show Beverly Hills, 90210, and later Charmed, is characteristically candid, upbeat, and dry-witted. She is also known for her roles on Charmed.
The 52-year-old woman is more motivated than ever to keep going ahead as she continues to undergo treatment for her condition. “My life is not yet over,” she said. I have not yet had enough of love. No, I have not yet finished constructing. “I’m not finished with hopefully changing things for the better,” she adds with a grin on her face. It’s just that I’m not — I’m not finished.
Doherty’s eight-year battle with cancer has prompted her to contemplate the bigger picture of her life. This is a topic that she will investigate in her memoir-style podcast, Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty, which will make its debut on iHeartRadio on December 6th. In this podcast, she intends to talk about a wide range of topics, including the highlights of her career and her previous relationships, as well as the various stages of her illness and the various health regimens she has followed.
Doherty had chemotherapy and radiation treatment in addition to having a mastectomy after receiving her original diagnosis of breast cancer in 2015. She disclosed this information to PEOPLE for the first time.
In April of 2017, she disclosed on Instagram that she had entered remission from her cancer. However, by the year 2019, the disease had returned, and the following year, she made the announcement that she had been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 cancer.
If you ever find yourself wondering, “Why me? First, I was wondering why I had cancer, and then I was wondering why it had returned. It is the question “Why am I in stage 4?” that prompts you to search for the greater meaning in your life, as she says.
She has high aspirations of bringing attention to cancer research and raising cash for it, all while demonstrating that those who are battling terminal disease still have a lot to offer the world today. “The fact that we still do not have a cure is absolutely incomprehensible to me,” she adds.
Doherty revealed on Instagram in June that the disease had progressed to her brain and that she had undergone surgery five months earlier to remove a brain tumor. She also said that the procedure had been performed. In a sarcastic manner, she gave it the name Bob.
According to her explanation, “In order to examine his pathology, he had to be removed and dissected.” I can honestly say that it was without a doubt one of the most terrifying experiences I’ve ever had in my whole life.
For the time being, Doherty is looking forward to participating in clinical trials while new medicines are being developed. (The Susan G. Komen organization estimates that there are around 168,000 individuals now living with breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.) Although she has been diagnosed with cancer, she is primarily motivated by the urge to demonstrate that she is still capable of working. She is able to persevere because she has a profound sense of self-control and discipline.
Assuming that it implies you are unable to move, eat, or work is a common misconception among these individuals. They told you that you were done and retired at a very young age, but we are not retired,” she recalls. “They put you out to pasture at a very early age.” We are vivacious, and our perspectives on life couldn’t be more contrary to one another. People who want to work, who want to enjoy life, and who want to keep going ahead are what we are.
Being able to spend another day with her friends, her family, and her German shepherd Bowie is something that the actress expresses gratitude for each morning.
As she puts it, “My most memorable experience is still to come.” I say a prayer. Both when I get up and when I go to bed, I give thanks to God and pray for the things that are important to me without making excessive requests. This strengthens my connection to a higher force and my spirituality. I rely on my religion as my motto.
In her explanation, she says that when you have cancer, everything becomes more meaningful, and the sky becomes bluer.
“I am aware that it may seem corny and ridiculous, but you are just more conscious of everything, and you recognize that you are so privileged. The reason why we are the ones that want to work the most is because we are so thankful for each and every moment, each and every hour, and each and every day that we are able to be here.