Shannen Doherty Discusses IVF, ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell’s Cancer to Be Shown on New Show and More

Actress Shannen Doherty discussed hopes of a child post-diagnosis.

Actress Shannen Doherty was diagnosed with cancer in 2015.

Doherty, 52, revealed her struggle with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment prior to her breast cancer diagnosis in 2015. During this time, Doherty was married to Kurt Iswarienko.

"Not only did I want a child for myself, but I wanted it for my husband. I wanted it for our marriage, I wanted him to have that part of himself fulfilled as well," she said on an episode of her podcast, Let’s Be Clear. Because the couple met later in life, she says they "needed IVF and I did a bunch of rounds of it."

Doherty also had fears that her breast cancer was a result of IVF.

"A lot of other women that I knew that did IVF that ended up getting breast cancer as well,” Doherty said.

Read More: Shannen Doherty Gives a Cancer Update, ‘Kool & the Gang’ Member Dies From Cancer and More

"If you sort of have a cell that's a little wonky and that's sitting on the edge of maybe turning, spreading cancer … all the hormones that you're pumping into your body from IVF are only going to up that chance. That was at least my thinking.”

Doherty announced that she has also denied treatment with Tamoxifen when she went into remission in 2017.

Tom Smothers of “The Smothers Brothers” died from cancer.

Tom Smothers, of the American comedy duo, ‘The Smothers brothers” died from cancer this past Tuesday at age 86.

"Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner," Dick Smothers stated, according to a recent press release. "Our relationship was like a good marriage – the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another."

“Tom Smothers was not only an extraordinary comedic talent, who, together with his brother Dick, became the most enduring comedy duo in history, entertaining the world for over six decades — but was a true champion for freedom of speech,” National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson said in a statement.

The Smothers Brothers made television history when debuting the show in 1967, creating a massive audience filled with young baby boomers.

“We were moderate. We were never out there,” Dick Smothers said. “But we were the first people through that door. It just sort of crept in as the ‘60s crept in. We were part of that generation.”

The brothers went on to win an Emmy for their show.

“It’s hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war,” Smothers said at the 2008 Emmy Awards. He honored those “who feel compelled to speak out and are not afraid to speak to power and won’t shut up.”

The CBS original was eventually cancelled and taken off the air in 1969.

Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell’s cancer experience will be highlighted in an upcoming show.

On Dec. 9, 2023, Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell, the sister of Alana “Honey Boo Boo,” start of the reality series, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” died of stage 4 adrenal carcinoma.

Now, her family’s experience with Chickadee’s cancer will be portrayed in a new reality show, “Mama June: Family Crisis,” which will air on WE tv in February. The show finished filming in November, before Cardwell’s death.

“She wanted to bring awareness to her rare type of cancer because there is still so much unknown about it and it is very rare,” Cardwell’s husband, Eldridge Toney, said to PEOPLE.

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