Shannen Doherty shared a new development in her ongoing battle with stage IV breast cancer to Instagram on Tuesday.
The actress, 52, 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, as per 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 the cancer treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Shannen Doherty shared a new development in her ongoing battle with stage IV breast cancer to Instagram on Tuesday; seen in 2019
‘January 12, 2023,’ began Shannen. ‘On January 5th, my ct scan showed Mets in my brain.’
She then referenced a video clip shared Monday which showed her getting some sort of 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.’
In the clip, she is seen lying down as doctors placed a blue mold over her face. 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 Tuesday: ‘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.
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’
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,’ the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum concluded.
Her latest health update comes after she 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.’
And in an Instagram post shared on March 9, Shannen took aim at both SAG-AFTRA in general and its president Fran Drescher, who is herself a cancer survivor and has described herself as an ‘anti-capitalist.’
Tagging Fran, Shannen wrote: ‘im curious for people like me who have worked since they were 10 and paid dues to @sagaftra how when we aren’t able to work for health reasons why our union abandons us.’
Shannen, who shot to international fame on Beverly Hills, 90210, added: ‘I think we can do better for all our members and I think you’re person to do it.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to SAG-AFTRA and representatives for Fran Drescher for comment.
She 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.’
The message was accompanied by a selfie of Shannen wearing a stern expression while hooked up to an intravenous drip.
Shannen learned she had stage IV breast cancer in 2019 — two years 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.
On Monday, the star shared a clip showing the ‘process of getting fitted for the mask which you wear during radiation to your brain’
In the clip, she is seen lying down while her doctor speaks to her
He then shows her the mold they use to create the custom mask
They then placed a blue mold over her face
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
Speaking out: Her latest health update comes after she accused SAG-AFTRA of canceling her medical insurance due to her income level in March
Shannen quietly separated from her husband Kurt Iswarienko, 48, before filing for divorce in April.
In a statement to TMZ, Shannen’s publicist Leslie Sloane alleged Kurt’s agent was ‘intimately involved’ with their divorce.
‘Divorce is the last thing Shannen wanted,’ her representative told the publication at the time. ‘Unfortunately, she felt she was left with no other option.’
Shannen and Kurt exchanged vows and tied the knot in Malibu in October 2011.
Previously, she was married to actor Ashley Hamilton from 1993 to 1994, and her second marriage was with poker player Rick Salomon from 2002 to 2003.
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