Jenna Fischer, best known for her role as Pam Beesly on the sitcom “The Office,” revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year but is now cancer-free following therapy. Fischer revealed in an Instagram post on Tuesday that she was diagnosed with Stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer in December of last year following an ambiguous mammography that led to a breast ultrasound.
“I never expected to announce this, yet here we are. Last December, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer. Fischer wrote, “After surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, I am now cancer-free.” The Instagram post featured a series of slides outlining her cancer diagnosis and treatment. She also encouraged her followers to schedule annual mammograms.
Fischer described triple-positive breast cancer as an aggressive kind of cancer that is very treatable. She stated that she had a lumpectomy to remove a tumor in January, followed by 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy and weeks of radiation. “Luckily, my cancer was detected early, and it hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body,” she said on her blog.
“I’m happy to say I’m feeling great,” Fischer concluded. Fischer also revealed that she had lost her hair and was wearing wigs during chemotherapy. “I am making this announcement for several reasons. One, I’m ready to quit the wigs. Two, I beg you to schedule your annual mammograms,” she added.
“I’m serious; call your doctor right now,” she replied. “My tumor was so small that it couldn’t be touched during a medical examination. Things may have turned out far worse if I had delayed another six months. “It could have spread.” She praised her medical staff, husband, family, and friends in her message. “It takes a village to fight cancer, and I have had an amazing village,” Fischer, a mother of two children aged ten and thirteen, wrote. She also thanked her best friend and “The Office” co-star Angela Kinsey, “who protected and advocated for me.” Fischer and Kinsey host the podcast “Office Ladies,” where they critique episodes of “The Office” and reveal behind-the-scenes tidbits from the show.
“For a long time, she was the only person in my workspace who knew,” Fischer said. “When I lost my hair, she donned caps to our business meetings to ensure I wasn’t the only one. When I needed a break, we took it. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a career that allows for such flexibility. Cancer therapy necessitates a lot of flexibility. For someone who enjoys planning, this was a difficult adjustment. However, continuing to work has brought so much joy into my life during treatment.”
