Shannen Doherty’s Most Powerful Quotes About Her Cancer Battle Before Her Death

Shannen Doherty was a warrior during her year-long cancer battle.

The “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum died Saturday at age 53, nine years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

Her publicist, Leslie Sloane, told PEOPLE that the actress was “surrounded by her loved ones” when she died.

Doherty went into remission in 2017, but less than three years later, she announced that she had stage 4 breast cancer.

Doherty was open about her health battles in the last years of her life.

“I couldn’t survive,” he said less than eight months before his death. “I’m not done with love. I’m not done. I hope I’m not done changing things for the better. I’m not right – I’m not done.”

Here are Shannen Doherty’s most empowering quotes about her cancer battle.

August 2015

Doherty confirmed that she was diagnosed with cancer in August 2015 at the age of 44.

“Yes, I have breast cancer, and I am currently undergoing treatment,” the actress told PEOPLE in a statement.

“I continue to eat right, exercise and be very positive about my life,” she continued. “I am grateful for the support of my family, friends and doctors and of course my fans who have stood by me.”

August 2016

A year after revealing her diagnosis, Doherty opened up about the support of her husband, Kurt Ishwarienko. The couple’s marriage later ended in 2023 as Doherty filed for divorce and alleged that he had cheated on her for two years.

“I couldn’t do it without my husband,” Doherty told Entertainment Tonight in August 2016. He never missed chemo. He never missed a sick day.”

October 2016

The “Heathers” star shared more about her health battle on Chelsea Handler’s talk show in October 2016.

“I think what’s beautiful and difficult and interesting about cancer is that it breaks you and builds you and breaks you and builds you. It remakes you at different times,” she said.

“The person I thought I was supposed to be or was going to be or who I thought I was six months ago is now someone completely different,” Doherty continued. “And I realized, ‘Wow, I really thought I was so brave and so gracious this whole time and really I was hiding.’ “

April 2017

Doherty shared the news in April 2017 that he had been pardoned.

“What does liberation mean? I hear this word and I don’t know how to react. The good news? yes irresistible Yes,” she said.

“More waiting now. As all of my fellow Cancer families know, the next five years are crucial. Repetition happens all the time. Many of you have shared that story with me. So with a heart that’s definitely light, I look forward.”

September 2018

During an appearance on “Good Morning America” ​​in September 2018, Doherty said she was doing well.

“Everything is going really well. You hear the word remission and it’s a rush of emotions. It’s like, ‘What next?’ ” he said. “There is a bit of fear and apprehension. I felt lost for a second. I was like, ‘Now what?’

“But then it kind of starts to sink in and then you’re happy and you’re so excited but then you’ve got to wait for that five-year mark and that 10-year mark — so forgiveness is a crazy word to me.”

Doherty shared her cancer journey on social media, saying “It helped me because when I came back, these beautiful stories from other people, what they were going through … gave me hope and support and love, it really helped. It’s really a family. There is something very beautiful about this journey.”

February 2020

In February 2020, Doherty revealed on “GMA” that her cancer had returned and was in stage four.

“I don’t think I’ve processed it. It is a bitter pill to swallow in many ways,” he said.

Doherty added: “I definitely have days where I say why me. And then I go, well, why not me? Who else? Who else deserves this but me? None of us do. But I would say that my first reaction is always Worries – how will I tell my mother, my husband.”

She also said it was “weird” to be diagnosed with cancer but still remembers her “Beverly Hills, 90210” co-star Luke Perry, who died of a stroke in March 2019 at the age of 52.

March 2020

Doherty said on Instagram in March 2020 that she was “embracing every day” of her life amid her cancer battle.

“After a year of dealing with the cancer coming back and other stressors, I’m back at it. Taking care of myself and hugging everyday,” she wrote in her social media post. “It’s not always easy. I have days when I’m depressed or just plain lazy. But with the help of friends, I moved forward.”

September 2020

Doherty told Ellie in September 2020 how she was preparing to die.

“I did not sit down to write the letter. It’s something I have to do,” he said. “There is something I need to say to my mother. I want my husband to know what she means to me.”

He also said at the time that he considered making video messages for his loved ones so that he could see them after his death.

“But whenever it’s time for me to do it, it feels final,” he noted. “It looks like you’re signing off, and I’m not signing off. I think I’m a very, very healthy person. It’s hard to wrap up your affairs when you think you’re going to live another 10 or 15 years.”

October 2021

The “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” actress says she’s “fighting to stay alive” on “GMA” in October 2021.

“I never want to have an operation [like I’m dying]. I just want to work because I don’t have things to check because I will continue to fight to survive,” he said.

“Many people who are diagnosed with stage 4, become demented. It’s assumed that they can’t work or they can’t work to their full potential and that’s not true,” Doherty added. “It’s something I really want people to stop assuming and give us a chance to prove them wrong.”

June 2023

In June 2023, Doherty shared a clip of “what cancer might look like” before her brain surgery.

“I’m obviously trying to be brave but I’m scared,” Doherty wrote. “The fear was overwhelming for me. Scared of all the possible bad outcomes, worried about leaving my mom and how it would affect her. Worried that I wouldn’t get out of surgery.”

September 2023

At the ’90s con, Doherty appeared on a “Beverly Hills, 90210” panel with her former cast members and told fans she was still fighting her cancer battle.

“I have a fight for my life that I deal with every day,” Doherty said. “I think I’m really great.”

November 2023

“I don’t want to die,” Doherty told People in November 2023. “I’m not done living. I’m not done loving. I’m not done. I hope I’m not done changing things for the better. I’m not right – I’m not done.”

He also said it’s “crazy” there’s still no cure for cancer.

December 2023

Doherty said on his podcast in December 2023 that he thought he would die early from his cancer battle.

“When I was down to 92 pounds from chemo and incredibly dehydrated, I still had to get out of bed,” she recalled. “My husband then [was] Urging me and my mother to continue [was] Literally trying to get me out of bed and to the doctor. … At the time, I thought I wasn’t going to survive this.”

The actress added that going through chemotherapy and other treatments taught her her true purpose: “Help others with what I was going through and … maybe speed up cancer research.” [and] There will probably be more money behind it.”

January 2024

Six months before his death, Doherty said on his podcast that he hoped to “squeeze out another three to five years.”

“There are many more options that have to be offered [us] Five more years,” he said. “Then in those five years, there’s a whole other group of options and eventually there’s going to be a cure.”

Later that month, Doherty shared a “miraculous” health update.

“I’m not going to say what it is, I’m on a new cancer infusion, and after four treatments, we didn’t really see a difference and everyone wanted me to change, and I was kind of like, ‘We’ll just keep going with it and see,'” “He shared on the podcast. “And yes, after the sixth or seventh treatment, we really saw it breaking down the blood-brain barrier.”

“For me, it can be a miracle now,” added the actress. “That I sort of rolled the dice and said, ‘Let’s go on.'”

Also in January 2024, Doherty revealed on his podcast that he wanted his loved ones to distribute his ashes “in a healthy mix”.

“I want [my remains] To mingle with my dog, and I want it to mingle with my father. I don’t want to be buried and I don’t want to be cremated,” she said at the time. She suggested spreading her and her father’s ashes in Malibu, California, where they spent “precious time” together, or using his remains to “grow like a tree.”

Doherty said she wanted her funeral to be short.

“There are a lot of people who I think will show up that I don’t want there. I don’t want them there because their reasons for showing up aren’t necessarily the best reasons, like, they don’t really like me and, you know, they have their reasons and good for them, but they don’t actually really like me enough to show up to my funeral, ” he explained.

“[They’ll show up] Because it’s the politically correct thing to do, and they don’t want to look bad, so I want to take the pressure off them and I want my funeral to be like a love fest,” he continued. “I don’t want people crying or people being private, ‘Thank God the dog is dead now'”

April 2024

Three months before his death, Doherty said on his podcast that he was selling his belongings so his mother wouldn’t have to deal with them after his death.

“Cancer, for me, really made me take stock of my life and change my priorities, and my priority right now is my mom,” she said. “I don’t want him to have a bunch of stuff to deal with. I don’t want her four storage units filled with furniture because I have a furniture obsession.”

Doherty said she initially felt like she was “throwing in the towel” by selling her belongings, but decided to use the money to enjoy the time she had left with loved ones.

“It feels like you’re giving up something that was very special and important to you,” he said. “But you know it’s the right thing to do and it gives you a sense of peace and a sense of calm because you’re helping people who left them behind just to make a clean, simple transition.”

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