Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Shannen Doherty reveals stage four cancer diagnosis: ‘It’s a bitter pill to swallow’

‘Charmed’ star previously had breast cancer which went into remission

Clémence Michallon
New York
Tuesday 04 February 2020 10:58 EST
Comments
Shannen Doherty reveals she has stage four cancer

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Shannen Doherty has been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.

The Charmed and 90210 star revealed the diagnosis on Good Morning America on Tuesday morning.

“It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week that I have stage four [cancer],” she told host Amy Robach.

“My cancer came back and... that’s why I’m here.”

Doherty kept the diagnosis private for a year. She said she chose to discuss it now because the condition will soon be made public in court documents.

“I don’t think that I’ve processed it,” she added of the diagnosis. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways.”

Doherty was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and announced that the illness was in remission in April 2017.

She later learned that it had returned and she didn’t disclose it immediately, instead joining the 90210 reboot BH90210.

The series was a chance for her to pay tribute to her former co-star Luke Perry, who died of a stroke in March last year.

Doherty also viewed the TV show as a way to show others that it’s sometimes possible to keep working even after a stage four cancer diagnosis.

“People can look at that say, ‘Oh my God, she can work, and other people with stage four can work too,’”’ she said.

“Our life doesn’t end the minute we get that diagnosis. We still have some living to do.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in