Shannen Doherty‘s close friend and doctor, oncologist Dr. Lawrence D. Piro, remembers the end of the last actress. In an interview with people, Piro – a doctor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles – opened up about staying by Doherty’s side until she died on July 13 after living with stage 4 breast cancer.
Piro told the outlet that Doherty was “a step more positive” when it came to his prognosis.
“In their minds, they don’t want to consider any other alternative than ‘we beat this and we’re going to live,'” Piro said. “We don’t talk about what the extra time means to him because that’s not how he does it. He wants to live every day, not like it’s his last day, but like it’s the beginning of another chapter for him.”
At Charm alum was first diagnosed BREAST cancer in 2015. After several rounds of chemotherapy, he announced that he was in remission in 2017, but it was revealed in February 2020. when it comes back is a metastatic stage 4 cancer.
Doherty previously said that he and Piro had a “good, mutually respectful relationship.”
“He respects that I always come with new questions and he takes the time to deal with and answer everything… The key is to find a doctor who listens to you and respects your concerns,” he wrote in the caption on Instagram. September 2016. “Not every cancer patient is the same. Also, it took me a lot of meetings to find my dream team. Don’t settle.”
In June, Doherty emotionally revealed in him Let’s Be Clear podcast that she will undergo chemotherapy for stage 4 breast cancer after her cancer cells progressed.
“I think I’m fine. I have to go back on chemo and it’s really hard, like the idea of ​​going through it again has destroyed me,” Doherty said as she became emotional. “It’s hard. It’s like, the idea of ​​going through this again has broken me. It’s broken me emotionally, yes, I know I have stage 4, yes, I know it’s serious, yes. I’ve taken steps to protect my family and clear a lot of stuff but when you have to go to the hospital and you have to, you know, put it in (and) the port they put in you, it becomes very real in a very different way.”
Last episode of Let’s Be Clear aired on July 8 almost a week before his death.
“We kept going until we couldn’t walk anymore,” Piro said. “The last conversation we had, he was in the process of realizing that what happened was really significant. The conversation was about love and support and caring and still fighting. He wants to continue to treat and fight, even if his physical condition is a little down.
“It became more difficult in the last few weeks, and that’s when it became clear that it was a different direction,” Piro said. “We continue to fight while giving more support and we continue to love and hope and support.”
Piro shared that he remained by Doherty’s side during his final moments, along with several of his loved ones, including his dog Bowie.
“In the last few hours, he was in a very comfortable place and he was sleeping and transitioning, and he was surrounded by some very close friends,” he recalled. “The room was surrounded by a select group of friends who gave him a lot of care and support. It was somber and sad, but beautiful and loving. The hardest thing about it was that he wasn’t ready to leave because he loved. life.”
In December 2023, the Beverly Hills, 90210 star spoke to ET about the importance of using her podcast to expand her battle with cancer and share her own story.
“It’s all about past, present, future, hopes and dreams. I’m very private,” he said. “I told them everything: what happened in my three marriages, what happened Charmwhat happened in 90210. I talked about losing my father and what it meant to me. It’s very, very personal. I talk about my cancer journey, which is obviously a big component to the podcast.
Among the hardships he faced, Doherty was told he would have to undergo brain surgery after her cancer returned – around the time she learned from him then-husband Kurt Iswarienko allegedly had an affair, and later filed for divorce. In June, Doherty sought support from Iswarienko as he revealed there are residuals of Charm it’s dry.
However, he is optimistic about his future.
“I’ve been in love in the past, and even though it didn’t work out, it was still great, and I learned a lot from that person and I respect them,” Doherty said. “Even with the marriage now over, there were some good times.”
That optimistic nature is part of Doherty’s long-standing legacy of treating others well, Piro said.
“This incredible love for life is inspired by love for people and love to be treated well,” he said. people. “And I think that he grew up because he was in the public eye from a young age and felt misunderstood all his life. He wants us to live strongly, be true to our beliefs and not allow others to label or blame you and prevent you from being live your best life.”
Since his death, Doherty has remembered for career, life and friendship by fans, friends and co-stars, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Priestley, Brian Austin Green, Jennie Garth, Spelling Toriand many more.
mother star, Rosa Dohertypay award for the late actress for the first time in a statement to ET two days after his death.
“She’s my beautiful girl and my heart,” Rosa said. “Our family would like to thank everyone who has shown our Shannen so much love and support throughout her life. We truly appreciate it.”
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