Actress Shannen Doherty has filed a lawsuit against her former business manager for a late diagnosis of breast cancer.

The 44-year-old actress, known for roles on Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed, was diagnosed with “invasive breast cancer metastatic to at least one lymph node” in March 2015, according to TMZ, but was told by her doctors the cancer had spread in 2014.

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Doherty has filed a lawsuit against former management Tanner Mainstain Glynn & Johnson, who she claims took five per cent of her earnings in return for managing her finances, including her health insurance.

She blamed the late diagnosis on a lack of health insurance, which had been cancelled in 2014 after the firm neglected to pay her premiums.

Doherty claims she was unable to re-enrol until 2015, when she resumed her usually regular doctor visits and received the diagnosis.

She now faces the prospect of chemotherapy and a mastectomy, TMZ reports.

The firm at the centre of the lawsuit issued the following response to Fairfax Media.

“Tanner Mainstain is saddened to learn that Ms. Doherty is suffering from cancer and wishes her a full recovery,” it stated.

“However, the claim that Tanner Mainstain caused her to be uninsured, prevented her from seeking medical care, or somehow contributed to her cancer is patently false.

“Tanner Mainstain will aggressively defend all of Ms. Doherty’s claims in court.”

Doherty confirmed she was currently undergoing treatment.

“I am continuing to eat right, exercise and stay very positive about my life,” she said in a statement to People.

“I am thankful to my family, friends and doctors for their support and, of course, my fans who have stood by me.”