Shannen Doherty's Doctor Breaks Silence On Her Final Moments

Shannen Doherty's final moments left indelible prints in the hearts of her loved ones.

The "Charmed" actress' doctor has come forward with details of her last days and how they both tapped strength from their friendship and bond.

Shannen Doherty died on Saturday, July 13, surrounded by her family after a tumultuous, almost decade-long battle with cancer.

Dr. Lawrence Piro looked after Doherty at the Cedars-Sinal Medical Center in Los Angeles while she fought cancer and grew to become one of her closest friends and advisors over the years.

He said they formed an instant connection, adding, "The vibe is right, and you understand each other and what the thoughts mean as if you had known each other for years before that meeting."

The doctor continued that they maintained that intensity in their friendship until she passed away. Doherty shared the same sentiments about her closeness with Piro, which involved a great deal of mutual respect for each other.

"The key is to find a doctor who listens to you and appreciates your concerns. Not every cancer patient is the same. Also, it took me a lot of meetings to find my dream team. Don't settle," wrote the late TV personality about Piro on her Instagram in 2016.

Doherty was on a rollercoaster with her cancer diagnosis, which was first discovered in 2015, then declared to have gone into remission in 2019, but made a comeback in 2019 and advanced into metastatic stage 4 cancer in 2020.

Piro has always had the best things to say about his friend. In January, when he appeared alongside the late actress on her podcast, he described her as a very intelligent person who participated actively in her health journey.

On July 24, Doherty expressed her optimism about finding a cure, despite the cancer spreading to her bones, and Piro detailed her attitude through it all, including a very important last conversation they had after realizing things had taken a serious turn.

"The conversation was about love and support and caring and still fighting through. She wanted to continue to take treatment and fight through, even though her physical condition had taken a bit of a downturn. And so we did," shared the LA-based oncologist.

Per PEOPLE, Piro explained that the "90210" star found herself with limited options due to her condition a few weeks before her death, but still asked questions about the possibilities of finding a way out, declaring that: "She was an incredible warrior in everything she did."

As a testament to their enduring and enviable friendship, the physician was beside her deathbed with some of her loved ones and her dog, Bowie.

He shared that she was in a comfortable place in the last few hours, sleeping and transitioning, and was surrounded by some of her very close friends.

"The room was surrounded by a select group of friends that were giving her a lot of care and support. It was somber and sad, but beautiful and loving. The hardest thing about this was that she wasn't ready to leave because she loved life," added Piro.

He continued that the reality star was known for hosting vibrant dinner parties during her lifetime and cooking the best meals as her love for life and desire to have more life kept her going, and it was painful for her not to be able to do that in her last days.

The medical expert concluded that the star's legacy should be regarded as one of treating people with kindness before adding:

"She would want us to live our lives as strongly as we can, committed to our convictions, and to not allow others to label you or to misrepresent you and stop you from living your best life."

In her true positive and entertaining nature, the star appeared in the hit show "Beverly Hills, 90210" reboot and played an adult version of her character, Brenda Walsh, despite fighting off cancer.

A younger Doherty first appeared on the show when it premiered in October 1990, but left after its first season in 1994 and continued to make several guest appearances on the 2008 reboot "90210".

The Blast shared that despite being aware of her diagnosis, she kept it a secret from the cast after her costar, Luke Perry, died suddenly in March 2019.

She stated that the shock of his death prevented her from opening up about her own sickness, especially since he appeared so healthy. Her decision to appear in the TV reboot was essentially to honor Perry, adding that:

"One of the reasons, along with Luke, that I did 90210 and didn't tell anybody [was] because I thought, people can look at that [as] people with stage 4 can work too."

The disease certainly pushed the American actress into new frontiers, leading her to develop a stronger sense of purpose and a more positive attitude toward life.

The Blast reported that the actress remained vocal about her health struggles and expressed her will to spend more time doing what she loves, living life, and improving her environment.

This is a fact her colleague and fellow cancer warrior Olivia Munn attested to in her tribute, detailing how Doherty continued to check up on her and provide emotional support after her diagnosis and during treatment.

Doherty also shared that her diagnosis helped her reflect on her journey in life and realize that her greatest memory was yet to come, adding that she has grown more devoted to praying for things that matter to her without being too forceful or desperate about it.

Undoubtedly, the brave Shannen Doherty lived an impactful life and will be sorely missed.