Shannen Doherty, 52, shares video taken moments before having a tumor removed from her head — after learning breast cancer had spread to her brain
Shannen Doherty appeared on social media Wednesday to share more insight into her ongoing cancer battle.
The 52-year-old Beverly Hills 90210 alum – who recently revealed she’s now battling brain cancer – uploaded a video clip that showed her speaking with a medical professional before going into surgery to have a tumor removed from her head.
Engaging her 2 million Instagram followers, she wrote along with the outtake, ‘January 16, 2023. Surgery. I had a tumor in my head they wanted to remove and also biopsy. I am clearly trying to be brave but I am petrified.’
Shannen was shown in a hospital bed, wearing a gown and cap over her hair, appearing to be in good spirits before being put under anesthesia.
Her caption went on to say, ‘This is what cancer can look like.’
Staying strong: Shannen Doherty appeared on social media Wednesday to share more insight into her ongoing cancer battle; pictured in 2019
Life changing: The 52-year-old Beverly Hills 90210 alum – who recently revealed she’s now battling brain cancer – uploaded a video clip that showed her speaking with a medical professional before having a tumor removed from her head
Elsewhere in the caption, Shannen said, ‘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.’
It comes after the actress had a CT scan done on January 5 that revealed cancer cells had spread from their original site to her brain — known as ‘brain metastases.’
Breast cancer is among those most likely to lead to brain metastases which could cause a tumor or tumors in the brain, states the Mayo Clinic.
Shannen explained that she underwent her first round of radiation therapy on January 12 and that she’s fearful despite having a ‘great’ medical team.
Included with her post was a heartbreaking clip of herself crying as she received cancer treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
‘January 12, 2023,’ the caption began. ‘On January 5th, my ct scan showed Mets in my brain.’
She then referenced a video clip that showed her getting an MRI.
The star explained that it is part of the ‘process of getting fitted for the mask which you wear during radiation to your brain.’
The actress, 52, had a CT scan done on January 5 that revealed cancer cells had spread from their original site to her brain — which is known as ‘brain metastases’
In the clip, Shannen lay down as doctors placed a blue mold over her face and head. They had her bite down to make sure it adhered to her mouth and chin.
Shannen began to cry as they held the edges of the mask down and pinned them to a board behind her head before moving her into the machine.
The actress continued: ‘January 12, the first round of radiation took place. My fear is obvious.’
Radiation treatment uses ‘energy beams to destroy cancer cells’ and it can ‘target all or part of the brain, depending on a person’s diagnosis,’ according to NYU Langone Health.
‘I am extremely claustrophobic and there was a lot going on in my life,’ Shannen wrote. ‘I am fortunate as I have great doctors like Dr Amin Mirahdi and the amazing techs at cedar sinai.
Radiation: Shannen explained that she underwent her first round of radiation therapy on January 12 and that she’s still fearful despite having a ‘great’ medical team
Breast cancer is among those most likely to lead to brain metastases which could cause a tumor or tumors in the brain, as per the Mayo Clinic
Emotional: Included with her post was a heartbreaking clip of herself crying as she received the cancer treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles
‘But that fear…. The turmoil….. the timing of it all…. This is what cancer can look like,’ she concluded.
Earlier this year Doherty accused SAG-AFTRA of canceling her medical insurance due to her income level in March.
The agency’s website reveals: ‘You must earn $26,470 in your Base Earnings Period to receive Earned Eligibility for Active Plan health coverage.’
In an Instagram post shared on March 9, Shannen took aim at both SAG-AFTRA and its president Fran Drescher, a cancer survivor who has described herself as ‘anti-capitalist.’
Shannen argued: ‘Health insurance shouldn’t be based on annual income. It’s a lifetime contribution. And for me and many others, we have paid a lifetime of dues to only be canceled because we don’t meet your current criteria. Not ok.’
Shannen learned she had stage IV breast cancer in 2020 — after entering remission after first being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.
She shared with GMA at the time that the cancer had come back aggressively.
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