Shannen Doherty's Breast Cancer Screening Advice Could Save Your Life

While many Hollywood stars have battled breast cancer over the years, nobody has bravely (and so very publicly) detailed their health journey quite like Shannen Doherty. To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Doherty, who has been in remission since the spring of 2017, has a message for us: It’s not enough to be aware-go get checked.

“October. Breast cancer awareness month,” she posted on Instagram in a black-and-white picture of herself in a hospital gown, next to a mammogram machine. “Last week I went for my mammogram. As scary as it can be, it’s also comforting when you get the all clear. Early detection is the key. Don’t put it off!!!”

 

 

 

 

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October. Breast cancer awareness month. Last week I went for my mammogram. As scary as it can be, it’s also comforting when you get the all clear. Early detection can be the key for some. Don’t put it off!!! #breastcancer #mammogram

A post shared by ShannenDoherty (@theshando) on Oct 1, 2018 at 9:15am PDT

The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum has poignantly documented every little detail of her struggle-from the moment she was diagnosed to her brutal chemotherapy and radiation and then finally, her recovery. Her honesty and candidness about the disease has been eye-opening to say the least, and has likely saved many lives.

 

 

 

 

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Step 6

A post shared by ShannenDoherty (@theshando) on Jul 19, 2016 at 9:05pm PDT

"I know sharing helped me because when I got back, these beautiful stories from other people, what they were going through ... giving me hope and support and love, it really helped," she told Good Morning America. "It's truly a family. There's something so beautiful about the journey."

 

 

 

 

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#fbf to a very short bit ago. Day after #chemoday isn't always so great. Sometimes one isn't able to dance, or eat or even to think about the next day. Sometimes it just feels like you aren't going to make it. That passes. Sometimes the next day or 2 days later or 6 but it passes and movement is possible. Hope is possible. Possibility is possible. To my cancer family and everyone suffering.... stay courageous. Stay strong. Stay positive. #wegotthis. #fightlikeagirl

A post shared by ShannenDoherty (@theshando) on Oct 21, 2016 at 3:10pm PDT

But the reason Doherty's latest post is so important is because it's a reminder to get checked. Why is early breast cancer early detection so crucial? When caught early, the prognosis is often much better. The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer that’s found early and confined to the breast is 96 percent, according to the Cancer Council.

However, keep in mind that an annual mammogram isn’t for everyone.

BreastScreen Australia invites women aged 50 to 74 to have free mammograms every two years. The program is also available free to women between 40 to 49 and 75 or over who have no breast symptoms.

If you aren’t sure about your risks, Asses Your Risk is an awesome tool that can help answer that question for you. The five-minute quiz takes into consideration everything from your family history to your own personal medical background and lifestyle. It can estimate your baseline risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.