Dying actress Shannen Doherty posts pics of her with Stage 4 breast cancer to raise awareness

Actress Shannen Doherty, suffering from terminal Stage 4 breast cancer, recently posted photos on Instagram that show the ravages of the disease.

According to a recent story by Maria Cramer in The New York Times, the 50-year-old says she took the action to raise consciousness. She hopes the candid photos "will jar people into getting mammograms and regular breast exams and help people cut through 'the fear and face whatever might be in front of you,'" the article notes.

Doherty, now

One photo shows her totally bald, with a bloody cotton ball in her nose. "Is it pretty?" she wrote. "NO but it's truthful and my hope in sharing is that we all become more educated, more familiar with what cancer looks like."

Doherty, who was diagnosed in 2015, has had a mastectomy, radiation and chemo.  In 2020, she announced she was plagued by nose bleeds and, more importantly, "fighting to stay alive."'

Doherty, before

The actress gained fame in the 1990s playing Brenda Walsh for four years on "Beverly Hills, 90210," but was widely criticized for being difficult on set and her highly publicized love-life. In a 2008 interview with The New York Times, she claimed the bad press was based on false stories or exaggerations. She said, "I have nothing to apologize for…However other people may have reacted…is their issue."

Much more information on the disease can be found in "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a VitalityPress book that I, Woody Weingarten, aimed at male caregivers.

TV star has 'no idea how to react' to good news

Remission! Two-year battle with breast cancer being won by actress Shannen Doherty

Actress Shannen Doherty's breast cancer apparently has gone into remission.

After a two-year public battle with the disease.

According to an article by Umberto Gonzales in The Wrap over the weekend, Doherty wrote on Instagram that she has "no idea how to react," and added that "for now, I'm going to just breathe."

Shannen Doherty

But the "Beverly Hills, 90210" television star is realistic.

She noted that "as every single one of my fellow cancer family knows, the next five years is crucial. Recurrences happen all the time."

Meanwhile, she said, "Decisions. Reconstruction, which is several surgeries. Decision on taking a pill for the next five years comes with its own set of problems and side effects."

Her over-all feeling, however, was that "I am blessed."

Her battle became public when, according to Gonzales, "she sued her former management firm after her health insurances lapsed," which led to a delay in having her breast cancer diagnosed.

The star has undergone chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

Details about the disease, reconstruction, side effects and follow-up treatments can be found in "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a VitalityPress book I, Woody Weingarten, aimed at male caregivers.

Shannen Doherty's breast cancer metastasizes

TV actress' post-mastectomy treatments: chemotherapy, radiation, strong marriage

Shannen Doherty

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Shannen Doherty's breast cancer has metastasized.

To her lymph notes and perhaps elsewhere.

Exactly what that means regarding treatments is still unclear, however.

US magazine this week reported that Doherty gave an interview to "Entertainment Tonight" in which she finally admitted having had a mastectomy in May, and that she's using an expander.

The 45-year-old actress, who's already undergoing chemotherapy (eight sessions have been planned), has now added radiation to her regimen.

Doherty, who during a four-year stint on "Beverly Hills 90210" gained fame as someone difficult to work with, told "ET" that "living without a breast is manageable. It's the worry of your future and how your future is going to affect the people that you love."

She also said that "the unknown is always the scariest part. Is the chemo going to work? Is the radiation going to work? You know, am I going to have to go through this again, or am I going to get secondary cancer?"

Last month she posted six black-and-white photos on Instagram showing her lopping off her hair, preceded by another picture with this caption: #cancersucks.

She said at the time that she'd probably be unable to have children because of the cancer treatments.

During this week's interview, she reported that "it was traumatic and horrible" being fitted for a new bra. "I broke down crying in the dressing room and ran out, and then sat in the car crying."

Her breast cancer diagnosis originally was made in February 2015.

On Tuesday, her photographer husband, Kurt Iswarienko, shared an Instagram shot of the couple flipping the bird to cancer. Doherty was wearing a bright pink wig.

She commented that he's been with her through all the chemo treatments so far, and that her cancer has "made my marriage a thousand times stronger."

Insights into mastectomies and other treatments can be found in "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a VitalityPress book I, Woody Weingarten, aimed at male caregivers.

Mastectomy may be in the offing for 45-year-old

Actress Shannen Doherty preempts breast cancer hair loss by shaving her head

Shannen Doherty, with pre-cancer
treatments haircut in process.

Suddenly, actress Shannen Doherty is bald.

Temporarily, at least.

She's shaved her head while fighting breast cancer, according to a recent Associated Press story in the Washington Times.

The 45-year-old Doherty posted six black-and-white photos on Instagram that showed her lopping off her locks, preceded by another picture with a caption carrying the phrase #cancersucks.

Her cancer initially was disclosed in a lawsuit filed last year against her ex-business managers.

It alleged that they caused her health to deteriorate while they mismanaged her money. She charged in the suit that her cancer went undetected because she put off going to a doctor when they let her insurance lapse.

Doherty gained fame in a four-year stint as Brenda Walsh on "Beverly Hills 90210" — but even greater notoriety as being someone extremely difficult to work with.

The actress — who maintains she'll probably be unable to have children because of her cancer treatments — has signed to do a television series based on the 1995 Kevin Smith movie, "Mallrats."

She's also said she's prepared to have a mastectomy if other treatments fail.

You can learn about the psychological damage of hair loss in "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a VitalityPress book I, Woody Weingarten, aimed at male caregivers.

'90210' star blames metastasis on insurance lapse

Actress Shannen Doherty battling breast cancer — and ex-managers, for it spreading

Shannen Doherty

Shannen Doherty, who gained fame by starring in TV's "Beverly Hills, 90210" but even more from fighting with her co-stars, is now fighting again.

This time it may be for her life.

She's been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The 44-year-old's also battling her ex-business managers and accountants — via a court suit — for allegedly mismanaging her money and letting her health insurance lapse, an action that in turn purportedly allowed the cancer to spread.

Doherty, who's also starred in television's "Charmed," may require a mastectomy and chemotherapy.

According to an Associated Press story in USA Today and other newspapers, she apparently has been unable to work since her March diagnosis, which was just revealed through the lawsuit.

The suit maintains the metastasis has caused her "severe emotional distress," the story adds.

Doherty also has incurred "significant medical expenses," People magazine said later.

According to the Daily Dish, the actress claimed "she paid bosses at Tanner, Mainstain, Glynn & Johnson five percent of her earnings to manage her finances, including medical insurance payments to the Screen Actors Guild, and when they ignored a bill, her coverage was canceled for much of 2014."

That cancellation, she charges, forced her not to visit her doctor for regular check-ups, only to find subsequently she had breast cancer that has since metastasized.

An earlier diagnosis, she says, might have resulted in treatments that could have stopped the cancer from spreading.

She contends that an earlier diagnosis might have resulted in treatments that could have stopped the cancer from spreading.

A lawyer for the firm, Randall J. Dean, called her claim "patently false."

Doherty's husband, Kurt Iswarienko, also is suing the Tanner, Mainstain for mismanaging the couple's money, thereby "leading to other financial troubles, including tax audits and liens," the AP reported.

Want to know what ups and downs Iswarienko, a photographer, is facing as Doherty's prime caregiver? 

In a VitalityPress book,  "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," I, Woody Weingarten, address what male caregivers can do to help their mates and themselves.