Shannen Doherty's 'Hard Sell' Approach to Dating Amid Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Shannen Doherty opens up about the challenges she faces in the dating scene as a woman with stage 4 breast cancer, explaining why she believes she may be a "hard sell" for potential romantic partners.

Actress Shannen Doherty has candidly discussed her experiences with dating after revealing her stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis. In a recent episode of her "Let's Be Clear with Shannen Doherty" podcast, she shared her concerns about finding a romantic partner who can navigate the complexities of her health journey.

Doherty explained that she feels it would be difficult for someone to date her, knowing that she faces a shortened life expectancy. She said, "I think it's hard for somebody like me, in my personal opinion, because it's hard to go into dating someone when you know that they might have an expiration date."

Shannen Doherty's 'Hard Sell' Approach to Dating Amid Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Her experience with men, she noted, has led her to believe that they may not be as equipped as women to handle death and illness. "And I don't think men handle death and illness – most men, I don't want to generalize and say all men – but they don't handle any of that as well as women do," she said.

Doherty confessed to feeling like a "hard sell," but her friend and podcast co-host Kelly Ripa disagreed, expressing her confidence in finding a match for Doherty. Ripa suggested looking for an older man with his own financial stability who would not be intimidated by Doherty's success.

Shannen Doherty's 'Hard Sell' Approach to Dating Amid Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Doherty shared that she is no longer interested in "bad boys," citing an encounter with a man who raised red flags within an hour of meeting. "I went, 'Nope, I can't do this anymore,'" she recalled.

Doherty has been married twice, first to actor Ashley Hamilton from 1993 to 1994 and later to Rick Salomon from 2002 to 2003. She is currently in the midst of a divorce from photographer Kurt Iswarienko, who she discovered was having an affair just before her brain surgery last year.

Shannen Doherty's 'Hard Sell' Approach to Dating Amid Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis

"I went into that surgery early in the morning and I went in after I found out that my marriage was essentially over, that my husband had been carrying on an affair for two years," Doherty said on her podcast. "To not go in that surgery, even though, being very clear, he wanted to go, I couldn't go into that surgery with him there. I felt so betrayed."

Doherty expressed feeling unloved by Iswarienko, whom she had been with for 14 years. In a recent legal filing, she accused him of prolonging their divorce to avoid paying her spousal support.

Shannen Doherty's 'Hard Sell' Approach to Dating Amid Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Doherty has also struggled with questions about why she developed cancer despite living a healthier lifestyle than others who have not been diagnosed. She has come to believe that her purpose is to use her platform to help others going through similar experiences.

"What I finally had to wrap my head around in order to accept my stage four diagnosis and everything I go through with it is that it happened to me because of the platform that I have and because I can help others," she said.

Shannen Doherty's 'Hard Sell' Approach to Dating Amid Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Despite her health challenges, Doherty remains resilient and determined to live her life to the fullest. She feels grateful for her support system, including ex-boyfriend Rick Salomon and Rob Weiss, who have been there for her throughout her journey.

Doherty acknowledges that she is still navigating the dating scene and coming to terms with her divorce. However, she is hopeful that she will find a partner who can support her and love her for who she is.