Shannen Doherty shaves head as she continues her brave battle with breast cancer

The Charmed star documented the process in a series of brave Instagram posts, in which she was accompanied by her mother Rosa and friend Anne Marie Kortright.

Beside a picture of the razor and some comforting treats, the 45-year-old had earlier hinted at the drastic move.

She wrote: “Cupcake pan, chocolates and a razor…. Stay tuned. @annemkortright has got this. #cancersucks #thankgodforfriends”

In a particularly touching first image, she was shown near tears as her mother held her in her arms.

In the following candid shots, Shannen was seen first shortening her hair with scissors, before using the razor to shear away the rest.

The former Beverly Hills 90210 star revealed to People magazine last August that she was battling breast cancer after being diagnosed in March 2015.

Her diagnosis came to light after court documents revealed she was suing her former business manger for not paying insurance premiums, which allowed her health insurance to lapse and a delay in getting a lump checked.

Appearing on the Dr Oz Show in February, she revealed that she is unlikely to be able to have children due to her cancer treatment.

“I’m 44 and my husband and I wanted children,” she admitted, adding they they would look at adopting instead.

She revealed that despite taking medication to shrink her tumour, she would “soon” face having a mastectomy.

Speaking about getting used to the idea of the operation, she said: “They’re just breasts. In the grand scheme of things, I would rather be alive and I would rather grow old with my husband.”

Shannen has been married to photographer Kurt Iswarienko since 2011.

She said she would be taking time out after the operation, adding that her weight gain from the medication had made it difficult for her career which is “not only based on talent, but it’s so much based on sort of the superficial shell that is right here”.