smg shannen

Shannen Doherty supported by friends after sharing heartbreaking cancer story

So brave!

Rebecca Lewis - Los Angeles
Los Angeles correspondentLos Angeles
October 8, 2021

Shannen Doherty has shared more of her personal journey with cancer to bring awareness and encourage fans to get a mammogram.

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As October is breast cancer awareness month, the actress - who has been battling cancer for many years - took to social media to share pictures of the "truth" of cancer.

WATCH: Shannen Doherty opens up on stage four cancer

"Is it all pretty? NO but it’s truthful and my hope in sharing is that we all become more educated, more familiar with what cancer looks like," she captioned the post.

"I hope I encourage people to get mammograms, to get regular checkups, to cut through the fear and face whatever might be in front of you."

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In one picture she had tissue covered in blood placed up her nose attempting to stave off further bleeding, while a second saw her dressed as the cookie monster including a face mask.

Shannen added: "In 2015 I got diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a mastectomy and did chemo and radiation. I had many nose bleeds from the chemo. Not sure if any of you experienced this. I also was beyond tired."

Shannen shared heartbreaking pictures of her journey

She revealed that she cheered herself up with silly pyjamas from her friends, writing that "in that ridiculousness, I was able to laugh at myself".

"Finding humor helped get me through what seemed impossible. I hope we all find humor in the impossible."

Her close friends including Sarah Michelle Gellar were quick to send their love, with Sarah joking that she loved the cookie monster pyjamas, and Selma Blair sharing her own experiences of nosebleeds.

She said she wanted to be truthful

"Brave strong funny shando," she commented, "nosebleeds like crazy. I put a tampon in my nostril!!! Laughing!!"

In February 2020 the former Charmed star revealed the devastating news that her cancer had returned – three years after she was given the all-clear.

Shannen was diagnosed in 2015 then went into remission in 2017. Sadly in 2019 she discovered she has progressed to stage four of the disease.

Shannen with her husband

She has long been an advocate for promoting awareness around the disease, and in 2017 she shared a heartbreaking picture showing the extent of her hair loss during chemotherapy.

"This image is so personal to me," she wrote in the caption.

"I had started chemo. Was using a cold cap in hope to not lose my hair. End result was clumps in my hands. I was sick, felt like I was losing myself. Gained people and lost people. Got weak and got strong. Felt ugly and yet more beautiful inside than I had ever felt before."

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