Doctor reports on Shannen Doherty's last hours
Shannen Doherty was not alone on her death day, but surrounded by a loving environment. Her treating doctor reported this.
Following Shannen Doherty's untimely death from breast cancer, her treating doctor, Dr. Lawrence D. Piro, spoke extensively about the last weeks and the day of death of the former "Beverly Hills, 90210" star to "People" magazine. According to Dr. Piro, Doherty "was not ready to go because she loved life," he said. However, her fight against cancer "had become much more difficult in the last weeks." The actress, who was 53 at the time of her death, was described by her doctor as an "incredible fighter."
Doherty referred to Piro in 2015 as "a very intelligent person" who "actively participated in her entire health journey." "She wanted to live every day, not as if it were her last, but as if it were the beginning of a new chapter for her," the oncologist explained, adding, "In her mind, she had no other alternative but 'we're going to beat this.'"
However, unfortunately, a significant deterioration in Doherty's health condition had occurred. In her last conversation, she was "aware of it," according to her doctor. They spoke about "love, support, and care," and about "still fighting."
Last Hours Surrounded by Friends
Doherty wanted to continue her treatment at that point. Although there were "limited possibilities" for further treatment, a continuation of the fight was "not even under discussion," according to Piro. "Shannen didn't live. She was an incredible fighter in everything she did."
In her final hours on Earth, Doherty was at a place "where she felt very comfortable, slept, and made the transition," according to Piro. She was "surrounded by a select group of friends" who "gave her a lot of care and support," he added. "It was dark and sad, yet wondrous and loving. The hardest part was that she wasn't ready to go because she loved life."
Doherty praised her doctor in 2016. In an Instagram post, she wrote that she had "an amazing relationship with him, marked by mutual respect." "The most important thing is to find a doctor who listens to you," she wrote in the social network at the time. She referred to their collaboration as a "dream team."
Breast cancer was first diagnosed in Doherty in 2015. Between then and 2017, she was considered cancer-free. However, in 2020, she spoke about her breast cancer being advanced and incurable. In June 2023, she announced that she had metastases in her brain. At the end of 2023, she revealed that her bones were also affected by the cancer.
Despite her advanced and incurable breast cancer, Shannen Doherty continued to find joy in entertainment. She attended the 2022 Emmy Awards, her doctor recalling, "She was beaming with excitement."
Amidst her cancer journey, Doherty's love for life and entertainment never wavered, even during her final hospital days. Her doctor shared, "She watched movies and series, finding comfort and distraction in entertainment."
