In Shannen Doherty’s final role, she rebelled against cancer by sharing her journey

For all the things that Shannen Doherty had to fight for over the years – from her reputation to her health – it was clear in what would be one of the final episodes of her podcast that the actress was putting everything into the battle for her life.

For all the things that Shannen Doherty had to fight for over the years – from her reputation to her health – it was clear in what would be one of the final episodes of her podcast that the actress was putting everything into the battle for her life. In an episode of “Let’s Be Clear” that was published on June 23, the “Beverly Hills, 90210” star gave her listeners a tough update: She was going to resume chemotherapy treatment. Still, she offered a bit of positivity with the bitter pill that is stage IV cancer. “So for the first time in a couple of months I feel hopeful because there are so many more protocols now,” she said. “Before, I was hopeful, but I was still getting prepared. Now, I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t need to be prepared, I need to go on vacation. I need to go on a boat again and explore places!’” She closed the episode saying, “I can tell you I’m not going anywhere right now.” Doherty died Sunday at age 53, according to a statement from her publicist. An actress who rose from what TV Guide dubbed in the ’90s the “youth-quake” era of television, she carried a reputation for being outspoken on sets in a time when any self-advocacy by a young woman resulted in her being labeled “difficult.” But Doherty’s determination would serve her well in the role she took on in recent years: A voice of authority and advocacy in the cancer community. She first disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 and kept well-wishers up to date on her treatment, announcing her remission in 2017, and, ultimately, a return of her cancer in 2020.