'The Office' star Jenna Fischer opens up about breast cancer battle
Actress Jenna Fischer, who is known for starring in the hit sitcom The Office, has opened up about surviving breast cancer after she was diagnosed with the disease last year.
On her Instagram account, the 50-year-old star marked the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October by recounting how she found out about the disease after undergoing her routine mammogram.
"Back in October 2023, I posted a photo of myself on Instagram preparing for my routine mammogram with a joking reminder to ‘take care of your ticking time bags' a la Michael Scott. After inconclusive results on that mammogram due to dense breast tissue my doctor ordered a breast ultrasound," Fischer began.
"They found something in my left breast. A biopsy was ordered. Then, on December 1, 2023, I learned I had stage 1 triple positive breast cancer," she revealed.
According to MD Anderson Cancer Center, triple positive breast cancer "grows quickly and is considered more aggressive than hormone receptor positive breast cancers." It occurs when breast cancer cells "use estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) protein to grow."
After learning that her life was now at risk, Fischer underwent a lumpectomy to remove the tumor in January earlier this year.
While she was lucky enough to have her cancer caught early, she explained that "because of the aggressive nature of triple positive breast cancer, it still required chemotherapy and radiation to be sure it didn't return."
"In February, I began 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy, and in June I started three weeks of radiation. And while I continue to be treated with infusions of Herceptin and a daily dose of Tamoxifen, I'm happy to say I'm feeling great," Fischer wrote.
"I lost my hair during chemotherapy, but thanks to some great wigs and hats with hair, I have been able to wait until now to reveal all that has been going on for me," she continued.
Fischer highlighted that she is "now ready to ditch the wigs" and that she is making the announcement "to implore you to get your annual mammograms."
"My tumor was so small it could not be felt on a physical exam. If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. It could have spread," she stressed.
She also hopes that her post could be a source of support to any woman who has also been diagnosed with breast cancer right now.
"As anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis knows, your life changes immediately. It becomes all about doctor appointments, test results, treatments and recovering from treatments. Suddenly everything in your life is geared around one thing: fighting cancer," the actress wrote.
Fischer underscored that "it takes a village to fight cancer" before going on to express her gratitude towards the medical professionals who took care of her as well as her friends and family.
"Cancer treatment requires a lot of flexibility. For a gal who likes to plan, that was a hard adjustment. But, continuing to work has brought so much joy to my life during treatment," she wrote.
With regards to how her family reacted to the news about her illness, she shared that they "took this journey as a family" and they "got through it together."
Fisher ended her message by sharing some good news: "I’m happy to say that I was recently re-screened, and the treatments worked. I am cancer free."
"I will continue to be treated and monitored to help me stay that way. Again, don't skip your mammogram…. And know that should you get a breast cancer diagnosis, there is a village waiting to care for you," she stressed.
Apart from her role as Pam Beesly in The Office, Fischer is also known for films such as Blades of Glory, The Promotion, Hall Pass, and The Giant Mechanical Man.
Fischer isn't the only celebrity to have emerged victorious against breast cancer. Here are some Filipino celebrities and personalities who beat breast cancer.