Shannen Doherty Is 1 Strong Woman! See a Timeline of the ‘Charmed’ Star’s Cancer Battle

February 2020 — Shannen Announces Her Cancer Has Returned

At the start of 2020, Shannen bravely announced her breast cancer returned. The BH90210 actress shared the heartbreaking diagnosis during an appearance on GMA.

“I’d rather people here it from me,” she said, explaining that the news would probably come out in court papers that are part of an ongoing lawsuit from 2018. “I don’t want it to be twisted. I don’t want it to be a court document. I want it to be real and authentic. I want to control the narrative. I want people to know from me.”

Despite receiving the bad news, Shannen went on to honor former costar Luke Perry, who died from a stroke at age 52 in March 2019, by appearing in an episode of the late actor’s most recent TV show, Riverdale.

“It’s a hard one because I thought when I finally do come out, I would have worked and worked 16 hours a day and people can look at that and say, ‘Oh my God, she can work and other people with stage IV can work,’” she inspired. “Our life doesn’t end the minute we get that diagnosis. We still have some living to do.”

April 2017 — Shannen Reveals She’s in Remission

Considering Shannen has been open and honest about her entire battle with cancer, she couldn’t have been happier to let fans know she was officially in remission in April 2017. The brunette beauty took to Instagram at the time to announce the good news in an emotional post.

“Moments. They happen. Today was and is a moment,” she wrote. “What does remission mean? I heard that word and have no idea how to react. Good news? YES. Overwhelming. YES. Now, more waiting. As every single one of my fellow cancer family knows, the next five years is crucial. Reoccurrences happen all the time. Many of you have shared that very story with me.”

She continued, “So with a heart that is certainly lighter, I wait. 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.”

August 2016 — Shannen’s Cancer Spreads

After taking multiple life-saving precautions, Shannen revealed her cancer spread in August 2016. “I had breast cancer that spread to the lymph nodes, and from one of my surgeries we discovered that some of the cancer cells might have actually gone out of the lymph nodes,” she told ET at the time. “So, for that reason, we are doing chemo. And then after chemo, I’ll do radiation.”

“The unknown is always the scariest part,” she confessed. “Is the chemo going to work? Is the radiation going to work? You know, am I going to have to go through this again, or am I going to get secondary cancer? Everything else is manageable. Pain is manageable, you know living without a breast is manageable, it’s the worry of your future and how your future is going to affect the people that you love.”

July 2016 — Shannen Shaves Her Head

A little over a year after revealing her breast cancer diagnosis, Shannen chose to shave her head. The Mallrats actress showed off her beautiful, bald look, as well as the incredible support from her family and friends, as she unveiled her new ‘do in July 2016.

“Thank you to these three who helped me through an impossibly tough day and continue to be there every minute supporting and loving me,” she captioned an Instagram post at the time. “[My husband] @kurtiswarienko was in Mexico working but knew he left me in good hands. @annemkortright @chriscortazzo #mamarosa I love you. #mycrew #thisisasquad.”

May 2016 — She Undergoes a Single Mastectomy

Not only did the Badass author receive a number of rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, she also revealed she underwent a single mastectomy in May 2016. Despite considering the procedure as one of her most challenging parts of battling cancer, Shannen opened up about finding comfort in her doctors.

“He didn’t want me to wake up with absolutely nothing,” she recalled to ET. “It was very important to him that I didn’t have that experience, and so, he put an expander in, so I have a tiny something there. It’s cute and sometimes we fill it up and make it bigger, and sometimes we reduce it.”

“I’m being so personal right now,” she added. “But I think a lot of women can probably go, ‘Yeah, I’ve been through that.’ It’s great though, you get to pick out what size you want.”

February 2015 — Shannen Is Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

Shannen revealed her breast cancer diagnosis for the first time as she filed a lawsuit in 2015 claiming she could have potentially avoided getting a mastectomy and chemotherapy if her health insurance coverage had been kept up to date.

At the time, the Girls Just Want to Have Fun star argued her former management company was also to blame for the alleged lapse in her healthcare insurance. According to Shannen, it was during this lapse that she went without a regular checkup, which ultimately gave cancer the chance to spread.

The complaint claimed 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 (including mastectomy and chemotherapy) that Plaintiff will likely have to suffer through now,” ET reported.