THE OFFICE Actress Reveals Cancer Diagnosis, ‘Feeling Great’ After Treatment
Movieguide® Contributor
THE OFFICE actress Jenna Fischer revealed this month that she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer last year.
“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,” she shared. “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 continued.
Fischer shared that she had a lumpectomy in January. The tumor was removed and hadn’t spread since it was caught early. Because her cancer is aggressive in nature, she underwent radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
“The Office alum underwent 12 rounds of chemo beginning in February and three weeks of radiation beginning in June. She has since been treated with infusions of two other medications,” PEOPLE reported.
“I’m happy to say I’m feeling great,” Fischer said. “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.”
She’s sharing her story now because she understands the importance of preventive health checkups.
“I’m making this announcement for a few reasons,” Fisher explained. “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,” she continued. “I’m serious, call your doctors right now.”
She notes things could have turned out worse if she had waited as much as six months longer to get checked.
“It could have spread,” she continued. “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,” she said.
Fischer said it “takes a village to fight cancer,” and she definitely had one.
She said her best friend and OFFICE co-star Angela Kinsey helped her be able to keep working while undergoing treatment.
“When I lost my hair,” Fischer said, “she wore hats to our work meetings so I wouldn’t be the only one. When I needed a break, we took one.”
“After my final chemo and radiation treatments, [husband] Lee asked me if there was anything I wanted to do to celebrate. I said I simply wanted to ring a bell, with the kids, in our backyard, with everyone throwing confetti. So, we did it,” she said.
“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,” Fischer said.
“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 said, thanking her doctors, nurses, friends and family.
Kinsey commented on her post, saying that she loves Fischer and is glad she’s sharing her story.
“I got your back, always,” she added.
Movieguide® previously interviewed Fischer for her movie, THE 15:17 TO PARIS. She shared how she got star-struck working with Clint Eastwood:
“Clint Eastwood’s amazing,” Fischer told Movieguide®. “He’s just he’s so warm and easy and funny and a legend…He gives great direction but when he would talk to me, I would just be thinking oh it’s Clint Eastwood. It’s Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood’s talking to me.”
“And then you try to act normal yeah like yeah yeah sure we’re just colleagues me and Clint Eastwood. We’re just making a film together but…like completely nervous and you know…He doesn’t make you nervous, just his body of work and he’s a legend makes you nervous,” she said.
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