Shannen Doherty’s mother speaks out about her “beautiful” daughter’s death from cancer at the age of 53

Shannen Doherty’s mother is mourning the loss of her “beautiful daughter,” who died on Saturday at the age of 53 from complications of cancer.

“She is my beautiful girl and my heart,” Rosa Doherty told People on Monday.

“Our family would like to thank everyone who has shown our Shannen love and support throughout her life. We are truly grateful.”

Shannen’s longtime press agent Leslie Sloane announced the actress’ death on Sunday.

“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty,” Sloane said in a statement, explaining that Shannen “lost her battle with cancer after battling the disease for many years.”

The representative further referred to her late client as a “devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend” and said that at the time of her death she was “surrounded by her loved ones and her dog, Bowie.”

Sloan concluded, “The family asks for privacy during this time so they can grieve in peace.”

The “Beverly Hills, 90210” star was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2015, but the disease only became public when she sued her former business managers for allegedly mismanaging her money and letting her health insurance lapse, preventing her from seeing a doctor.

As a result, Shannen was diagnosed late, allowing the cancer to spread.

After her diagnosis made headlines, the “Charmed” star regularly updated her fans on her health.

In August 2016, she announced that her breast cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and she believed she would die within five years.

Less than a year later, the self-proclaimed “cancer fighter” announced that her disease was in remission.

However, in February 2020, Shannen announced that her cancer had returned and was in stage four.

“I’m scared to death,” she admitted at the time. “I’m pretty scared.”

In June 2023, the actress told her followers on social media that her cancer had metastasized to her brain.

In November of this year, Shannen explained that her beloved mother – who was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm when the TV star was eight years old – taught her to be perseverant in life.

“I’m a woman who was determined,” Shannen said at the time. “She instilled that in me as a little kid, like, ‘You don’t give up. You just have to work hard at it.'”

“I think I’ve always been a fighter,” she added. “I was raised to believe that I’m very strong and can achieve anything I set my mind to.”