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Shannen Doherty reveals stage 4 cancer diagnosis that's left her 'petrified'

]Shannen Doherty has revealed had stage IV cancer diagnosis. (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images)
Shannen Doherty has revealed her stage IV cancer diagnosis. (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images)

Shannen Doherty has revealed that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

The 48-year-old disclosed the news of her cancer battle on Good Morning America, which comes three years after she went into remission in 2017 following a 2015 breast cancer diagnosis.

The Heathers star learnt cancer had returned to her body last year and kept it private but divulged she now wanted to reveal her health status before it became public in court papers concerning her ongoing lawsuit against an insurance company.

Read more: Celebrities pay tribute to ‘humble and kind’ Luke Perry

Speaking on the US show, she said: "It’s going to come out in a matter of days or week that I am Stage 4, my cancer came back and that’s why I am here.

Shannen Doherty is seen at the 2019 American Humane Hero Dog Awards at The Beverly Hilton on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision for American Humane/AP Images)
Shannen Doherty is seen at the 2019 American Humane Hero Dog Awards at The Beverly Hilton on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision for American Humane/AP Images)

"It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways. I'm petrified. I'm pretty scared."

Doherty told of how the cancer had returned before her 90210 co-star and friend Luke Perry's untimely death in March last year.

She said it was "shocking" to see someone "seemingly healthy" die after she had been diagnosed.

Shannen Doherty was shocked when her friend and colleague Luke Perry died. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Shannen Doherty was shocked when her friend and colleague Luke Perry died. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

The actor returned to work on the rebooted series four months after Perry’s passing.

Explaining why she kept quiet and continued to work, she said: “I thought, people can look at that, other people with stage four can work too. Like our life doesn’t end the minute we get that diagnosis. We still have some living to do.”

Doherty shared that one person who did know was co-star Brian Austin Green who helped and supported her during the shooting of the series.