Actor Shannen Doherty has died at age 53. Her cause of death was breast cancer.
The “Charmed” star’s publicist Leslie Sloane tells TODAY.com in statement that “she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease.”
“The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace,” the statement reads.
Here’s what we know about Doherty’s cancer and cause of death.
What was Shannen Doherty’s cause of death?
Doherty’s cause of death was breast cancer, according to a statement from her publicist.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” Sloane said.
Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and said it had spread to one lymph node. She went into remission two years later. She announced in 2020 it had returned as Stage 4.
The cancer later metastasized to her bones and brain. She underwent brain surgery for her illness in 2023.
Prior to her death, Doherty shared in a late June episode of her podcast, “Let’s Be Clear,” that earlier treatment protocols were no longer working on her.
She had previously shared at different points that she was preparing to die and had gotten used to living with her cancer.
What is Stage 4 breast cancer?
Stage 4 breast cancer, which Doherty announced she had been diagnosed with in 2020, is also known as metastatic breast cancer. It is a late-stage cancer and occurs when the cancer cells have spread beyond the breast, usually to the bones first. Other common places for breast cancer to spread include the lymph nodes, lungs, liver and brain.
According to Penn Medicine, signs of Stage 4 breast cancer include:
- Bone pain
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Facial numbness
- Changes in speech, vision or balance
- Lung pain, shortness of breath, cough
“There is no known cure for metastatic breast cancer. Once cancer cells have spread to other areas of the body, it is not possible for them all to be removed,” Penn Medicine explains.
What Shannen Doherty has said about her breast cancer
Doherty shared a lot about her cancer diagnosis over the years, especially on her podcast “Let’s Be Clear.”
Most recently, in late June, she shared that protocols for her cancer treatment had stopped working and that she was trying a new approach.
“Protocols stop working,” Doherty explained. “Your body adjusts to them, becomes immune to them. Your cells change. Your cancer cells adapt — the molecular makeup of them changes and then you have to go into a different protocol.”
It was first made public that Doherty’s cancer was terminal in February 2020 on court documents.
In January 2023, she underwent surgery to treat the cancer that had metastasized to her brain.
In November 2023, she had revealed the cancer had spread to her bones, adding that she would need cancer treatment for the rest of her life.
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