Shannen Doherty Shares Inspiring Way She Keeps Her Spirits Up During Her Cancer Battle

Elise Solé
For Shannen Doherty, dance is a way to heal from her chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer. (Photo: Getty Images)
For Shannen Doherty, dance is a way to heal from her chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer. (Photo: Getty Images)

Shannen Doherty, who has been battling breast cancer for two years, has found solace in dance and she’s sharing that passion with her mom.

On Wednesday, the 46-year-old actress posted a video on Instagram featuring her and her mother Rosa Doherty performing a hip-hop dance with Doherty’s trainer Neda. “Moving it! Love how my mom has such spirit and keeps up with us even though Neda and I constantly change things midway…” Doherty wrote on the post which has nearly 200k views.

Moving it! Love how my mom has such spirit and keeps up with us even though Neda and I constantly change things midway. Btw… Neda is launching online classes which are amazing. Love these two. @themamarosa @jammalibu

A post shared by ShannenDoherty (@theshando) on Jul 5, 2017 at 11:57am PDT

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2015. She is suing her management firm for not paying her monthly health insurance premiums on time in 2014, then terminating her, leaving her uninsured without her knowledge. By the time Doherty visited a doctor, she had cancer.

Although she’s been undergoing exhaustive chemotherapy and radiation sessions, Doherty is determined to stay active through dance, writing on Instagram in January, “Any movement is so good during treatment, not just for the body, but for your mind as well.”

Radiation is tiring. It builds up within you and sometimes one just struggles to keep their eyes open. You can see how tired I am here but I'm still moving!! Any movement is so good during treatment, not just for the body, but for your mind as well. #cancerslayer @jammalibu @themamarosa

A post shared by ShannenDoherty (@theshando) on Jan 4, 2017 at 8:14am PST

“Dance is good for the soul,” she also wrote in April.

Just a little Friday workout with @jammalibu dancing to @champagnepapi Dance is good for the soul. Thank you Neda for making me laugh, move, and get healthy. #jammalibu #drake #cancerslayer #slayingthefloor

A post shared by ShannenDoherty (@theshando) on Apr 14, 2017 at 10:06pm PDT

Rosa has offered her unconditional support since her daughter’s diagnosis, attending medical appointments and helping shave her daughter’s head when her hair began falling out. In May, Doherty penned a touching tribute to her mother, calling her a “strong, fierce lady.”

Happy #mothersday to all but especially to my mom @themamarosa. A strong, fierce lady who has handled life and all it's curves beautifully. Thank you mom for your unconditional love and acceptance. Thank you for the cool washcloth when I was sick from chemo. Thank you for telling me I was beautiful when we shaved my head. Thank you for knowing I would get through it all and thank you for adapting and loving who I am after it all. I love you mom… to the moon and back.

A post shared by ShannenDoherty (@theshando) on May 14, 2017 at 2:44pm PDT

Throughout it all, Doherty has maintained an admirably positive attitude, telling Entertainment Tonight last September, “I’ve been given a really interesting opportunity and one that in a way, I kind of feel blessed. Cancer has in a strange way done some amazing things for me. It’s allowed me to be more me, like much more in touch with who I am, and much more vulnerable and the person that I always was, but I think it got hidden behind a lot of other stuff.”

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