Shannen Doherty continues to “fight like a girl” as she steps out for the first time since completing chemotherapy last week.
The 45-year-old was the bell of the ball in a sleek, black dress as she hosted the Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation’s first Gratitude Gala in LA at the weekend.
During the event, she spoke about the incredible progress she’s made.
“I feel great. I mean, I feel good, I’m super positive, I’m happy with where I’m at right now,” the former Charmed actress told Us Weekly.
“Cancer, for me, as hard as it is, has been a blessing. It has changed who I am as a human being forever. It’s altered my life in ways I can’t even speak of.”
The self-professed “cancer slayer” explained how her shock 2015 diagnosis made her realise the importance of giving back.
“To just infuse all of that positive energy that I have behind me from my cancer family out there that support me, and for everybody who is down with the ‘Cancer Slayer’, they’re now here,” she says.
“I just feel so blessed and so lucky in my life.”
The evening saw the survivor present a truly touching speech, which Us Weekly reports was proudly taped by the star’s husband of five years, Kurt Iswarienko.
“Cancer can be isolating and depressing, can be all-consuming. Cancer can overwhelm your life,” she told the audience.
“Seeing animals being rescued touched my heart and they renew my determination to dig deep and continue my own personal fight.”
Doherty’s two-year battle, which has seen her undergo a single mastectomy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, has been documented along the way in raw and revealing Instagram posts.
Speaking to People magazine about her decision to let fans in on such a difficult time, she says: “I just thought, I was doing something that was beneficial, maybe to myself and others, and maybe through that journey we could all learn something.”
“I learned a lot from my fans who follow me and my cancer family who post and tell me about their journey.”
The star has completed her chemo and radiation treatments, and is waiting to find out if she has beaten her cancer.
“Now that I’m done with chemo and radiation, the waiting game is here. Waiting for test. Waiting to see if I’m clear or not. Waiting for reconstruction. Waiting. I think when one gets cancer, they are always waiting to a certain extent. To those who know… I’m waiting with you,” she wrote on Instagram at the end of February.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
