Shannen Doherty Opens Up About 'Overwhelming Fear' In Clip Showing Moments Before Surgery

Shannen Doherty has given fans a peek into one of the lowest points of her life.

The "Little House on the Prairie" alum used a heart-wrenching clip to highlight "what cancer can look like" moments before she was wheeled into the theatre room to remove a tumor in her head. The update expectedly caused a reaction from her teeming fans, who supported her through the post's comment section as she continued her fight against cancer.

Doherty has revealed to her two million Instagram followers that she is battling brain metastases. In the clip shared, Doherty is seen laughing and conversing with a medical professional, whose voice is heard in the background, as she lies in a hospital bed. 

Parts of the professional's hands showed briefly as she placed them on the actress's outstretched hands to get a reaction. She then checked the "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" star's feet to confirm if she felt anything.

The conversation between the two continued as the medical staff informed Doherty, who donned a hospital gown, oversized head covering, and a nose mask, of the irritation that might occur after her surgery. Intimating her followers through the caption, she wrote:

"January 16, 2023. Surgery. I had a tumor in my head they wanted to remove and also biopsy. I am clearly trying to be brave but I am petrified. The fear was overwhelming to me."

"Scared of all possible bad outcomes, worried about leaving my mom and how that would impact her. She was worried that I would come out of surgery, not me anymore. This is what cancer can look like," she further told viewers.

As mentioned above, the update birthed a response from fans, with one writing, "I find it remarkable that this was in January and then you traveled to the UK where I had the privilege of meeting you in May. 4 months between them, it just goes to show your incredible strength, bravery, and courage. I have never met someone more inspirational, truly."

A second fan dubbed her "the definition of resilience," and a third lauded, "You are a true inspiration for showing the real bullsh% that goes with cancer. It's not all pink ribbons and fundraising walks. Thank you!!!!!!!"

A fourth person informed her that she had "a huge fan base praying" for her well-being and recovery, adding, "People who never met you yet feel like we have known you all our life. God be with you, Shannon." "Terrifying. Glad you are here today on the other side of it and able to talk about it. The hat's off. Amazing woman," a fifth netizen commented.

The influx of love is sure to warm the "Dancing with the Stars" contestant's heart as she has spent the last few years dealing with ongoing treatments for breast cancer. She was first diagnosed with the condition in 2015 and entered remission two years later. However, she revealed in 2020 that her cancer had returned and was already at stage 4.

Amid her battle against cancer, Doherty's love life took a turn when she and her husband, Kurt Iswarienko, announced they were going their separate ways after 11 years of marriage. At the time, the Young Artist Awards nominee's representative, Leslie Sloane, told PEOPLE through a statement:

"Divorce is the last thing Shannen wanted. Unfortunately, she felt she was left with no other option."

In the legal filing obtained by the outlet, we learned that the former couple had been separated since January and had cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their divorce.

Hours before it became public that the photographer and Doherty had filed for divorce, the latter dropped a cryptic statement on her Instagram feed and Story that read:

"The only people who deserve to be in your life are the ones who treat you with love, kindness and total respect." 

This union would be the longest the "Charmed" alum has been in, following the year-long marriages to her first two husbands. While she married actor and comedian Ashley Hamilton from 1993 to 1994, she and poker player Rick Salomon were man and wife from 2002 to 2003.