Jenna Fischer, best known for her role in The Office , has revealed that she was diagnosed with stage 1 triple positive breast cancer , but is now "cancer free."
She shared a cheerful Instagram photo of herself holding a mug and said: "October is breast cancer awareness month. I never thought I'd be making an announcement like this but here we are. Last December, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer. After completing surgery , chemotherapy and radiation I am now cancer free."
She added: "I wanted a photo of myself in my patchy pixie looking happy and healthy to go along with this news. A big thank you to Angela Kinsey's husband Josh Snyder for taking this photo. It's just one example of the care they showed me during this journey."
Alongside her picture, the 50-year-old actress shared a statement which read: "Back in October of 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. 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 Blades of Glory star further explained that her diagnosis is an "aggressive form of breast cancer but it is also highly responsive to treatment." Jenna disclosed that she had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor back in January.
"Luckily my cancer was caught early and it hadn't spread into my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body, however because of the aggressive nature of triple positive breast cancer it still required chemotherapy and radiation to be sure it didn't return," the actress shared. "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."
Jenna also opened up about losing her hair during treatment, but managed to keep her spirits up with "great wigs and hats with hair" until she felt ready to go public with her battle.
She continued: "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 doctor right now. 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. 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."
The celebrity also expressed her desire for her message to be a beacon of hope for women facing similar battles. "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," her post said.
She added in her note to her fans, "It takes a village to fight cancer, and I have had an amazing village. Until this happened, I don't think I really knew the generosity and kindness that could rain down from one person to another. It started with a team of doctors and nurses. All of them angels. There were caregivers, some of whom I saw only once, who shared their own breast cancer stories with me. They seemed placed along my path just in the moments when I needed them most. I was connected to other cancer survivors who coached me along the way. Strangers who are now sisters. It reinforced just how powerful sharing can be for the next person taking this journey."
She wrote: "Another big part of the village were my friends and family who have surrounded us with their love and support. Each person had their own special way of caring for us. Some people texted me every week of chemo, some took me for walks, picked up our kids from school, dropped off food, took me wig shopping, some sent prayers in the form of audio messages. Every gesture big or small was felt. All of it was perfect. Also, many people in my life didn't know until very recently. And I needed that too. I needed spaces and people who did not regard me as a cancer patient."
In the final slide, Jenna talked about her husband Lee Kirk, who she married in 2010. He was by her side through everything, including appointments and "late night ugly cries."
Gushing over her husband, Jenna said she "knew he was a catch when she married him." She said: "After my final chemo and radiation treatments 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. 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.
She concluded her heartfelt message by saying: "Again, don't skip your mammogram."
"Take it from Pam and her Pam Pams. Michael was right. Get 'em checked ladies. And know that should you get a breast cancer diagnosis, there is a village waiting to care for you."
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