Jenna Fischer recently shared that late last year she had been diagnosed with Stage 1 triple positive breast cancer. After a lumpectomy and months of chemotherapy and radiation, she was finally declared cancer free. She’ll still be treated with infusions of two other medications. Jenna said that she was sharing her story because she wanted to urge other women to stay on top of their mammograms and because she has lost all of her hair during chemo and was tired of wearing wigs. Now, Jenna is sharing more info with us about her diagnosis and treatment plan, in the hopes of giving hope and comfort to other women who are fighting breast cancer. She sat down with Hoda Kotb for an interview on the Today Show, which aired on Monday.
“The appointment that won’t end”: The actor told Hoda that in October 2023, she went in for her routine mammogram appointment that she had been putting off. “Three weeks later, they said, ‘Oh, your mammogram was fine. There were a few spots that were difficult to see. You have very dense tissue. We would recommend that you do another mammogram and maybe follow up with a breast ultrasound,’” she said of the conversation with her doctor. “I was like, ‘This is the appointment that won’t end.”
She didn’t think there was anything to worry about: She explained that she felt “no level of concern” when she went back for her breast ultrasound. However, they then asked her to do a biopsy, saying it likely was a “10% chance it’s cancerous.”
She found out through the patient portal: Fischer said she was on a hike by herself when she received the results via her patient portal. “I checked the portal on the hike, and that’s when I saw words like ‘invasive,’ ‘ductal,’ ‘carcinoma,’ ‘malignant,’” she said. “And I was like, ‘Those words sound like cancer words.’” She then called her husband, Lee Kirk, to tell him the results, though she wasn’t sure it was cancer until her doctor confirmed it later that same day.
Hearing about chemo made it real: When her doctor told her of her diagnosis, Fischer said she just felt “disbelief. I think the word that really got me was when we found out that I was triple-positive and my oncologist said chemotherapy. That was when I really lost it,” she said.
On losing her hair: “I started by having just a big bald patch down this side of my head. And I would kind of do a real elaborate comb-over,” she said, laughing. “I was like, ‘Oh, I understand why the gentlemen do this now. Yes, I can sort of pretend like that isn’t there for a while.’” Although Fischer said she considered it, she never had a “big shave-your-head moment.” Aside from styling her new part, she said she also opted to wear more hats and wigs during treatment.
Christina Applegate was really supportive: “I called [Christina Applegate], 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.’” Fischer recalled of their conversation. “She’s salty. Salty language that one. I love her for it.” Fischer said Applegate put her in touch with fellow survivors and that they took on her journey “together.”
Humor helped get her through treatments: “Humor helped through all of this. And working helped. And staying in the world helped,” she said. “My oncology nurse, Ron, was an amazing man. … When I started chemotherapy, he said to me, ‘Listen, I want you to get up every day, and I want you to walk. Every day. I want you to drink a ton of water. Walking and water. That’s what I want you to do. And I want you to take care of those kids. The women who get up and at it are the women who do better in my experience.’”
The best advice she got: Fischer said some of the best advice she received was to “live your life during this process,” while also listening to her body. “I did that,” she said. “And some days I just walked circles in my own living room. Some days I walked all around the block. But I did every day get up and do those things. And I think it made a really big difference.”
With a little help from her friends: “So many people took care of me, and my family, and my children, and I am so grateful for it — in so many small ways,” she said. “And the thing is, is that everybody had the right way or the perfect way to do it.” Fischer explained that some friends put her chemotherapy schedule on their calendars, while others sent thoughtful texts and picked her kids up from school. She said her mother-in-law recorded prayers that she would send before treatments.
The importance of normalcy and those “charming” annoyances: “I liked that people were annoyed if I was late with an email,” she said. “I liked being regarded as my old self, so to speak. All of the most important things became so clear so quickly. And the cool thing is that that focus never leaves. So I will get to carry that with me now. … I’ll say I find the world to be such a beautiful place in all of its quirkiness.” Fischer added that everyday annoyances have suddenly become “charming” to her. “Like, you know, just traffic. ‘Oh, look at you, cute traffic. Look at all the people just goin’ places,’” she said. “How great that I get to sit in traffic. How cool.”
Get the girls checked out: “Please don’t skip your mammogram appointment. Please get all the extra screenings that the doctor wants you to get. If I had waited six more months, it could have been much worse. It could have spread. It was a very aggressive form of cancer. I’m really lucky that my cancer had not spread into my lymph nodes. It hadn’t spread anywhere else in my body. My tumor was still very small, too small to feel That’s the thing. A self-exam would not have (caught the cancer). It really was that routine mammogram that started all of this. And I’m so grateful that I went to that appointment.”
I’m really glad that Jenna is sharing her story. It’s so important to talk about these things. If she can inspire someone to stop putting off getting a mammogram or encourage even just one woman who feels like something is “off” to make an appointment to get checked out, then she could save a life. I got my first mammogram last weekend and also was told I have dense breast tissue and need to go back for an ultrasound. The technician warned me that it may not be covered, but Jenna’s story was at the top of my mind, so I told them that was fine and went ahead and scheduled it for later this week. (I did call my insurance and it’s covered under my plan but it is insane that some plans do not cover this!)
I love what Jenna had to say about how it was important for her to live her life while going through all of this, and how the mundane and the annoyance were welcomed to maintain some semblance of sanity, normalcy, and perspective. She’s also really lucky to have such a great support system. Christina Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, when she was 36 years old. Since then, she’s been a big advocate, setting up a foundation to help women pay for MRIs and paying it forward by doing what she can to call and support breast cancer patients. That’s so admirable. I have no doubt that Jenna will pay it forward as well.
I’m so glad that Jenna is using her diagnosis to advocate for others. On a side note, on a recent podcast she talked about feeling insecure about her hair loss and wearing a lot of hats indoors to meetings, and then seeing her best friend/business partner Angela also start wearing hats so she wouldn’t feel alone. I just thought that was such a sweet way to show up for each other.
I’m so glad she’s sharing her story.
Please also learn about your breat density. It be really important for early diagnosis. densebreasts.ca
*is* really important for early diagnosis.
*sigh*
Yes please don’t rely on mammograms alone. They won’t find tumors in dense breaks. Demand an ultrasound as well
I want to highlight what her oncological nurse said about drinking A TON of water and moving around. It absolutely makes a difference in making you feel better and bounce back between infusions. I tracked my water intake and made sure I had 4+ liters/day and overnight, especially after chemo because I wanted that stuff out of my body. As for the losing hair, I shaved my head the second it started falling out because its really the falling out part that made it such a nightmare. I wore bandannas and scarves on my head and hats during the winter (I went bald twice because I had 2 stem cell transplants and those wipe out all body hair). I found my scalp to be too sensitive and my newly menopausal body too sweaty to go with wigs. God bless Jenna for being so open about all this; we need to uplift and support everyone that endures cancer and its treatment.
I was the same I shaved my head the day I clump of hair came out in the shower, I had friends come over and we cut my hair into all the styles we could think of, I had a mullet and a mohawk and finally just a nice bald head. I got a wig, wore it once cause it was so damn hot, and then I just went bald unless it was cold, my head too was so sensitive.
I had chemo every two weeks, and was drinking water a lot too, I bought myself a mini pool to float in, and let myself feel weightless as many days as I could. Cancer diagnosis sucks, mine was at 34 and changed the course of my life. It is great when people with a platform share their stories cause knowing someone else is going through what you are can really help.
Thank you all so much for sharing your stories.
I was hoping I could ask a question.
It has always seemed – anecdotally – that breast cancer has a huge genetic component and women don’t just “get it” if it doesn’t run in their family.
Does it run in any of your families?
@Friendly Crow — I got breast cancer in 2016 and it doesn’t run in my family on either side. However my mother took a drug called DES (Diethylstilbestrol) when she was pregnant with me back in the early 50’s to prevent miscarriage as she’d already had several. It was taken off the market in the 70’s because studies showed that females exposed to DES in utero are at increased risk of several specific cancers including breast cancer. I am now in treatment for advanced cervical-bladder cancer and my oncologist says there’s a likelihood it was caused by DES exposure as well.
Friendly Cow,
MOST women that get breast cancer have no genetic predisposition for it. Their average is 1 in 7 women.
For when women that have a family history, their risks are higher than 1 in 7.
For women that have a genetic mutation like BRCA1 or BRCA2, their risks are the highest.
All women need mammograms/scans, because all women are at risk.
I’m not one of the previous posters but I was diagnosed in 2023 with no family history or genetic predisposition. It is becoming more and more common. I thought I was safe and never thought twice about it and then, bam, breast cancer at 45 years old. Surgery, chemo and radiation. Thankfully cancer free now. But moral of the story is, if you have breasts, you are at risk.
Also, Jenna’s nurse is 100% correct about moving and hydrating. 18 rounds of chemo and I could tell when I wasn’t hydrated properly and always felt better the more I moved. Slowly.
I feel like I keep hearing that someone’s mammogram was fine but the ultrasound was not, which leads me to conclude that they need to do more ultrasounds. I wish they’d figure out a way to really catch this. Why can’t we just have yearly pet scans?
@manda, PET scans are expensive and might not qualify for insurance coverage without medically accepted reason. Also there is a substantial prep; diet and activity restr ictions and an injection of a dye that requires you to rest for a time before the scan which can take 30 minutes or more. This is probably not a suitable mass screening test.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer. I also have dense breasts and my mammograms have been regular in the past. My cancer was found by ultrasound and the diagnostic radiologist said while he couldn’t be 100% sure that it was cancer without a biopsy he was 99% sure that it was cancer. He was right and it was confirmed by biopsy. I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction and currently getting chemotherapy. It is a long journey and can be isolating even with all the love and support. I am so happy that Jenna is advocating and is cancer free. It gives us hope to those of us currently battling to be cancer free.
I have dense breast tissue and the state health department sends me a letter every year when I get my mammogram to tell me that the mammogram might not catch everything. So far, I’ve had one spot biopsied that was benign, but I don’t understand why they don’t just have women with dense breast tissue go straight to ultrasound. Is there a reason that’s not standard?
I need ultrasounds too. The technician told me that the mammogram can see things the ultrasound can’t and vice versa. So if they just did the ultrasound it’s possible they’d miss something. That made me feel better about it.
Thanks for the reply! I’m happy every year when it comes back normal, but there is always that little worry…
Also, I think you have to go ahead and ask for a diagnostic ultrasound, even if the doctor doesn’t ask for it, as well as diagnostic mammogram. And come see me in Houston, if any of you are diagnosed. I had the anesthesiologist tell me this afternoon that M. D. Anderson is the best in the world, not just the country. They have been so extraordinarily kind to me. I had a young woman who was pushing me to an appointment in a wheelchair, and she mentioned she was a singer and I asked her to sing for me, and she started singing Amazing Grace as we were coming off the elevator and heads popped up, it was so touching. I never thought I would have fun in Houston (other than the health stuff), but I have enjoyed it. Please pray for me, my surgery is Tuesday, October 29. I’m praying for all of you. I see the plastic surgeon pre-op on Friday, and I’m taking him roses and candy or something. No, I’m not kidding.
Wishing you the best, therese, and I am sending you positive thoughts and as much peace as you can find for your surgery and recuperation.
All the best for you, @therese. 💐
Therese,
I will be holding you in my thoughts on the 29th, and in the meantime sending tender loving thoughts your way.
Insurance and costs keep high risk patients from going straight to ultrasound or MRIs. Insurance wants to see that a less expensive test worked first. The more expensive the equipment, the more expensive the test, and MRI machines are very expensive.
Some plans are covering 3D mammograms (tomosynthesis) for patients with dense breast tissue, but they still aren’t as detailed as MRI.
For high risk patients, some insurance will allow your OB/GYN to prescribe a screening plan that does the higher level test every other year. So mammogram/MRI alternating years.
One final PSA:
If your family tested for BRCA in the early 2000s, test again! The tests have changed, and I know 2 women that previously tested negative, have now tested positive for BRCA. Also, there’s a version of the BRCA test that should ONLY be given to people with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. It can give you a false negative if you are given the test and don’t have that heritage.
I’m one of those dense breasts, get a 3D mammogram every year. So far, so good.
I really like Jenna and admire her perspective and openness in sharing what she has gone through.
Fun fact, back many years ago when she was on The Office I was a struggling actress in LA and went to an acting coach that knew her. I recall reaching out to her over social media (maybe MySpace lol) and she actually replied and was very lovely.
I wish her the best in her recovery.
When I first read the article here on CB that Jenna had breast cancer, I immediately called to make my appointment for my mammogram this year. So thank you, Jenna and thank you CB for the very important reminder. I too had to go back a second time last year for the ultrasound because I have dense tissue. Thankfully, everything was okay. My insurance tried every which way to not cover the ultrasound, but I live in New York State where it is mandated that it’s covered. Insurance is the absolute worst.
I too have dense breast tissue and had my first mammogram earlier this year. It came back abnormal and I had to go back and get a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. I could see the area of concern during the ultrasound and while they came back and said it’s likely benign, I still have to go back and get another ultrasound at the end of the year. It’s terrifying having this hanging over me because hearing ‘it’s likely benign’ is not the same as ‘this is benign’. Oh and my insurance is absolute sh*t and they only pay for the yearly mammogram. So I’m holding the bag for the follow up mammogram and ultrasound. So far the total is nearly $800 with more to be added once the second ultrasound happens. When I called my insurance to ask if these things were covered, the perky person on the other end said, “no they are not, but good luck!” Might as well have said, “no they are not, because we would rather you die than cover your medical screenings’.
Insurance is the pits. I have had the same experience when my mammogram showed calcifications, and not to alarm you, but I had to go for a mammogram every six months for the next two years before they pronounced that it isn’t something that merits further concern. The insurance will only pay for one per year and would not cover ultrasound or breast MRI at all…. Cannot tell you how much I HATE hate the perky pink decor of the mammogram facility and how everyone on staff wears their little pink ribbon, like let’s all be cute while we see if you have a life threatening disease.
I’m so so sorry. American health care and health “insurance” being 100% for profit is a plague.
Before Covid, I spent between 4-8 hours a week on the phone with our insurance company to see if they had processed our claims. That were 100% covered by insurance. The way they treat their “customers” ie “medical hostages” is horrific and appalling. They just give you the run around for as long as they can, hoping to break you.
I luckily found a law that said that if they hadn’t processed and paid the claim within 90 days of receipt of claim, they had to pay the full amount.
I brought that up constantly.
Ooh, would be great to know more about that law
I could have written this story, it’s so similar. I had a regular mammogram and had to come back right away because they found an abnormality. I do have dense tissue. I had to have the diagnostic mammogram and then an ultrasound. They told me that everything was normal, and I should get a regular mammogram in a year. It was a very scary situation, that thankfully was OK in the end.
But the last mammogram I got a few years ago, I had to have the diagnostic one because of the dense tissue. So I’m not sure why I should go back to a regular one? I’m just paying for multiple mammograms over here. Every time it’s been a fight with insurance to get the further screening paid for. I had to put the last mammogram on a payment plan because insurance wouldn’t cover it.
One year, after my yearly mammogram, they told me I had a lump, probably a cyst, and they had me get an ultrasound. The ultrasound results were, yep, just a cyst, nothing to be concerned about. But because my mother died of breast cancer, because I’d read a story about a woman being told just that & then a year later turned out she had Stage IV breast cancer, I told my doc I wanted that out, I wanted a biopsy to be sure. And she said I don’t blame you, and referred me to a surgeon. Turned out to be just a cyst, but I felt a lot better KNOWING.
And maybe I was just lucky, but this is one reason why I always go to women doctors, for all specialties. The surgeon, the anesthesiologist, my PCP, everybody. (Also dentist, cardiologist, neurologist, and dermatologist.)