‘The Office’ star Jenna Fischer reveals breast cancer diagnosis
Jenna Fischer has revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
“The Office” alum — who played Pam Beesly on the NBC sitcom — announced the news via Instagram Tuesday in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
“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’s post 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.”
The 50-year-old actress shared that she underwent treatment and is cancer free.
“After completing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation I am now cancer free,” she wrote.
However, the road to recovery was challenging.
Fischer went on to reveal she had a lumpectomy in January to remove the tumor, which luckily hadn’t spread because the doctors caught it early. Due to the “aggressive nature” of her cancer, the star required chemotherapy and radiation.
She underwent 12 rounds of weekly chemo starting in February and began her three weeks of radiation in June. Fischer was also treated with infusions of two other medications.
“I’m happy to say I’m feeling great,” she shared in her Instagram post, revealing she’s making the best of her recovery.
“I lost my hair during chemotherapy but thanks to some great wigs and hats with hair (which my family affectionately called Wigats) I have been able to wait until now to reveal all that has been going on for me,” Fisher continued, adding, “I’m making this announcement for a few reasons.”
“One, I’m ready to ditch the wigs. Two, to implore you to get your annual mammograms. You can also ask your doctor to calculate your Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score and get any additional screenings required. I’m serious, call your doctors right now,” she said.
“If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse,” she explained. “It could have spread. Seeing women post photos of their mammogram appointments on Instagram needled me into setting my own (which I was late for). I’m so glad I did. Consider this your kick in the butt to get it done…. Suddenly everything in your life is geared around one thing: fighting cancer.”
Sharing two photos of her journey, Fischer posted an image of herself with her “patchy pixie looking happy and healthy to go along with this news” and another one showing her ringing the bell at the end of her cancer journey.
She thanked her medical staff, family, friends and other cancer survivors, sharing, it “takes a village to fight cancer.” Fischer also gave a special shout-out to her former “The Office” co-star Angela Kinsey‘s husband, Joshua Snyder, for taking one of the photos, saying, “It’s just one example of the care they showed me during this journey.”
Several fellow survivors chimed in, including actress Olivia Munn, who revealed her diagnosis earlier this year.
“You already know how much I love you and how incredibly proud of you I am. But I just want to say it again; I love you and by sharing your story you’re helping so many women and saving so many lives. You’re just the best,” she commented.
Jennifer Garner replied to Fischer’s post, sharing, “I’m so grateful to know you’re on the other side and cancer free!”
Kinsey, who played Angela Martin on “The Office” with Fischer, wrote, “I love you and I’m so glad you’re sharing. I got your back, always.”
Fischer has been married to her husband, director Lee Kirk, since 2010. The couple has two kids: son Weston Lee and daughter Harper Marie.