Jump directly to the content

SHANNEN Doherty revealed she's 'dying' of stage IV breast cancer in new court documents obtained by TMZ.

The fatal diagnosis was discovered after she claimed in her lawsuit against State Farm that "she is dying of stage IV terminal cancer," TMZ claimed.

 Shannen gave a very emotional interview today
8
Shannen gave a very emotional interview todayCredit: GMA
 Shannen and co-star Luke Perry in Beverly Hills 90210 - 1990-2000
8
Shannen and co-star Luke Perry in Beverly Hills 90210 - 1990-2000Credit: Kobal Collection - Rex Features
 Shannen has been in remission for five years
8
Shannen has been in remission for five yearsCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Her attorney claimed in the lawsuit that the 48-year-old actress cannot live out "her remaining years peacefully in her home" because State Farm is still refusing to cover the cost of repairs to her home following the Woolsey Fires in early 2019.

Just this morning, she tearfully revealed she is dealing with stage IV breast cancer - five years after beating the disease in a candid interview about her condition on Good Morning America on Tuesday.

"It's going to come out in a matter of days or a week that -- I'm stage four," she said in the emotional interview.

"So my cancer came back. And that's why I'm here ... I don't think I've processed it.

"I definitely have days where I say why me. And then I go, well, why not me? Who else? Who else besides me deserves this? None of us do.

"But I would say that my first reaction is always concern about how -- how am I going to tell my mom, my husband."

After being in remission for a number of years, Shannen bravely admitted it was a "bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways."

Shannen was first diagnosed with the aggressive disease back in 2015 and has been open about her ongoing struggle with it.

The Charmed star decided to speak out about her illness due to a "horrific" legal battle with insurance company State Farm.

STAGE IV BREAST CANCER

BREAST cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease to affect women.

It is the second most deadly cancer in women, after lung cancer - but men can be diagnosed too.

Like with most cancers, catch it early and you increase your chance of surviving.

Signs to watch out for include:

  • a lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
  • change in size, shape or feel of your breast
  • skin changes such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness
  • fluid or discharge leaking from your nipple when you're not pregnant or breastfeeding
  • changes in the position of the nipple
  • breast pain

After you're diagnosed doctors will try to work out if the disease has spread.

This process is called staging, and the stage determines how advanced the cancer is.

Stage IV breast cancer means the disease has spread out of the breast, to other parts of the body.

It's also known as advanced cancer, secondary breast cancer, or metatstatic breast cancer.

Catch breast cancer in the earliest stages, 0 to 1 and the five-year survival rate is around 99 per cent, according to the American Cancer Society.

But catch it in the latest stages and that chance falls to just 27 per cent.

Shannen said the dispute relates to her home which was practically destroyed by the California wildfires in 2018.

She said pursuing the case against State Farm was one of the most difficult decisions as she struggles with her illness.

She explained her breast cancer battle would have come out in the court documents and she wanted to "control the narrative."

In the meantime, she decided to go ahead with the 90210 reboot four months after the death of her co-star Luke Perry.

Shannen said she wanted to prove "life doesn't end the minute we get that diagnosis. We still have some living to do."

Her pal and fellow 90210 star Brian Austin Green helped her to cope on the bad days when it all became too much, she said.

As well as the traumatic diagnosis, the actress claims she was forced to pay out of pocket for wildfire damage State Farm should have covered.

State Farm says they paid nearly $1.1 million for repairs to Shannen's home, her personal property, temporary place to live, and furniture rental.

Today, a company spokesperson told The Sun: "We empathize with Ms. Doherty’s health issues and wish her a full recovery.

"We strongly believe we have upheld our commitment to our customer and have paid what we owe on this claim. We are prepared to defend our position in court.

 Beverly Hills 90210 , Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Luke Perry, Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley, Gabrielle Carteris
8
Beverly Hills 90210 , Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Luke Perry, Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley, Gabrielle CarterisCredit: Rex Features
 Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shannen at the American Cancer Society's Giants of Science Los Angeles Gala
8
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shannen at the American Cancer Society's Giants of Science Los Angeles GalaCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Shannen with the Beverly Hills 90210 - 1990-2000 gang
8
Shannen with the Beverly Hills 90210 - 1990-2000 gangCredit: Kobal Collection - Rex Features
 The actress felt it was time to speak up about her stage IV cancer battle
8
The actress felt it was time to speak up about her stage IV cancer battle
 Shannen bravely spoke about her illness today
8
Shannen bravely spoke about her illness todayCredit: Getty - Contributor


Do you have a story for The US Sun team?

Email us at [email protected] or call 212 416 4552.