In August 2015, Shannen Doherty shook the world when she revealed to PEOPLE magazine she was battling breast cancer.
"Yes, I have breast cancer, and I am currently undergoing treatment," she said. "I am continuing to eat right, exercise and stay very positive about my life. I am thankful to my family, friends and doctors for their support and, of course, my fans who have stood by me."
The 90210 star was huge in the 80s and still carries her fame to this day.
Doherty went through two rounds of chemo to help fight the cancer, and after the second round her hair began falling out. The actress started to panic, but she knew there was a solution.
"After my second treatment, my hair was really matted, like in dreadlocks. And I went to try and brush it out, and it just fell out," she recalled. "I just remember holding onto huge clumps of my hair in my hands and just running to my mom crying, like, 'My hair, my hair, my hair, my hair.'"
Doherty ended up shaving her whole head.
"We did stages. We did a pixie," she said. "And then we did a mohawk, which was my favorite look. And then finally we had to get the shaver thing and just buzz it off."
On April 23, 2017, Doherty took to Instagram to let everyone know that she was in remission.
She still has a long road ahead of her, but part of that road includes returning to work. Doherty recently opened up about what it's like to go back to work after fighting cancer.
Coupled with a very natural picture of herself, Doherty shared with fans her experience of returning to work.
"Good morning," she wrote. "It wasn't that long ago that I wondered if I would ever get to go back to doing what I love. Slipping into a character. Creating. Being on set, around the circus and feeling that deep satisfaction of accomplishment. This past week I worked 7 days. No weekend off and I loved every second. Yes I worked hard to get here but I'm also very blessed. Lucky, fortunate and not a day goes by that I don't thank God for this blessing of a life I have. So off to work I go with a full spirit. A spirit of gratitude and love and deep appreciation. There is beauty in everything."
Doherty is currently on set filming the reboot of her 1988 film, Heathers.
Anyone dealing with cancer will tell you that it's a hard road and one that often feels like there's no end. For Doherty to use her public platform to openly talk about the struggles, but also the triumphs of dealing with cancer, it's an incredible message being sent to those in the same situation as her.