Shannen Doherty, the beloved actress known for her roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” passed away at the age of 53 on Saturday after a prolonged battle with cancer. Her oncologist, Dr. Lawrence D. Piro, shared the details of her final moments, describing them as both “sad” and “beautiful.”
According to Dr. Piro, Doherty spent her last hours in a comfortable environment, surrounded by a close-knit group of friends. The atmosphere was somber, yet filled with love and support. “The hardest thing about this was that she wasn’t ready to leave because she loved life,” he said.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation, and was declared in remission in 2017. However, in February 2020, she announced that she was battling Stage 4 breast cancer.
In a June 2020 episode of her podcast, “Let’s Be Clear,” Doherty discussed her decision to undergo another round of chemotherapy. She admitted that the prospect of repeating the treatment was daunting. “The idea of going through that all over again has wrecked me,” she said.
Dr. Piro spoke highly of Doherty’s resilience in her fight against cancer. “The last conversation that we had, she was in the process of realizing that things had taken a pretty significant turn,” he said. Despite her deteriorating physical condition, Doherty was determined to continue treatment.
Doherty’s determination was unwavering, even when her options were limited. “That wasn’t even open for discussion, because that’s not how Shannen lived. She was an incredible warrior in everything she did,” Dr. Piro added.
Doherty’s passing was confirmed by her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, on Sunday. “On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” Sloane said. She added that Doherty was surrounded by her loved ones and her dog, Bowie, at the time of her passing.
Following her death, Doherty was remembered by fans and friends, including several of her “Beverly Hills, 90210” co-stars.