Shannen & Bowie
- Actress Shannen Doherty, 49, shared a video of her dog Bowie on Instagram, joking in the caption he was a “killer.”
- Doherty is currently fighting metastatic breast cancer; this is her second incidence of breast cancer.
- Breast cancer treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
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Shannen’s Cancer Battle
Doherty's breast cancer battle began in 2015 after she found a lump in her breast. The actress had a biopsy, which revealed the lump discovered was cancerous. Doherty had hormone therapy to fight the cancer, but it was rendered ineffective because the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.
Related: Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
For her treatment plan, Doherty had a single mastectomy, and she also had chemotherapy and radiation. Surgery is a common treatment for many people facing breast cancer. In an earlier interview, Dr. Ann Partridge, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute explains, "When I talk to a woman who comes to me and she has breast cancer, I evaluate what the standard options for treatment for her are.”
“[Options] typically include cutting out the cancer which is either a lumpectomy if you can get it all with just a little scooping around of the area that's abnormal, or a mastectomy for some women meaning taking the full breast because sometimes these lesions can be very extensive in the breast,” says Dr. Partridge. “And I'll talk to a woman about that and I'll say these are two main options or the big fork in the road."
Doherty went into remission after treatment, but in February 2020, the actress shared that her breast cancer returned, and it was advanced. The cancer had spread to other parts of her body.
When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?
Doherty’s Support Circle
Doherty has been fortunate to have the incredible love and support of her partner (film producer husband, Kurt Iswarienko, 46), a plethora of friends, and her loving dog, too.
Having a strong support network through the cancer journey can be hugely beneficial. Some may find support in loved one close to them, or in formalized settings, like therapy, or support groups for cancer patients.
Related: "Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
In an earlier interview, ovarian cancer survivor Kelly Sargent explained how important support groups were for her. She says, “When I was diagnosed, as soon as I got in the hospital, I started going online to find not only information but also support groups, stories from survivors, anything that I could find as far as my treatment I definitely looked for.”
Related: A Major Step in the Cancer Journey: Learning to Deal With Vulnerability
“I have met some incredible people in San Antonio. Coming here not knowing anyone, I’ve been blessed with having met some incredible ladies. I have an incredible set of friends that I met after my diagnosis through a Bible study group that have become very, very close friends of mine that are an incredible part of my support system. That support from those ladies has been life-changing for me. I can’t imagine going through it someplace else.”
The Benefit of Support Networks for Cancer Patients
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