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The Hollywood Reporter

‘The Office’ Star Jenna Fischer Called Christina Applegate Right Away After Receiving Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Lexi Carson
2 min read
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Jenna Fischer is opening up more about her battle with breast cancer.

On Monday, the Office star sat down with Today’s Hoda Kotb and revealed that Christina Applegate was one of the first people she reached out to for support after she was diagnosed.

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“I called her, and she answered the phone, and she said, ‘Which one is it?’ And I said, ‘It’s breast cancer.’ And she said, ‘I effing knew it.’”

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The two related to each other’s experiences because Applegate was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. And Fischer was not surprised by Applegate’s response, “She’s salty. Salty language that one. I love her for it,” Fischer said.

Following their conversation, Applegate connected her with other survivors, and Fischer said they went through their journeys “together.”

Fischer first announced earlier this month that she had been privately dealing with an “aggressive form” of breast cancer. The actress noted that after going in for a routine mammogram she learned she had Stage 1 triple positive breast cancer. Her treatment included surgery, chemotherapy and radiation — and they were successful as she also announced she’s now cancer free.

Fischer’s appearance on Today was the first time she’s been seen in an on-camera interview displaying short hair, since she lost hers due to treatment.

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“I mean, when they told me I had to have chemo, the first thing I thought was, ‘I don’t want to throw up, and I don’t want to lose my hair,’” she said.

“I did not throw up, but I did lose my hair,” Fischer continued. “And it’s all us ladies talk about. How much Googling did I do of hair and pictures of hair and, ‘What will it look like?’ It’s funny. The way that I lost it, it doesn’t come out evenly.”

She initially wore wigs to keep her diagnosis private, but she’s now ready to embrace her short hair and “ditch the wigs.”

Fischer also said her two children, 10 and 13, responded with “a great sense of humor” about seeing their mom’s new hair.

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