October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. To honor it, Jenna Fischer revealed via Instagram that last December she was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer. After a lumpectomy and then months of chemotherapy and radiation, Jenna, who is 50, is now cancer-free. Last October, Jenna made a post that she was on her way to get a routine mammogram. When that mammo was inconclusive due to dense breast tissue, her doctor referred her to get a breast ultrasound. After the ultrasound revealed something suspicious, they did a biopsy, which came back positive for cancer. Thankfully, it was caught in stage 1 and while it is aggressive, triple positive is also one of the more treatable forms of breast cancer. To help remain cancer-free, Jenna is still being treated with infusions with two other medications, Herceptin and Tamoxifen.
Jenna is generally one of the more private celebrities out there, which is why it doesn’t surprise me that she waited until she was finished with her treatments to say something. She came forward now because she wanted to raise awareness and remind other women that they need to make sure they’re keeping up with their routine mammograms. She also shared that she wanted to let everyone know what’s been going on because her treatments caused her to lose her hair, and she is tired of wearing wigs.
“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 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.”
Fischer shared that she had a lumpectomy in January to remove the tumor, which was luckily caught early and hadn’t spread. However, due to the “aggressive nature” of her cancer, she required chemotherapy and radiation.
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.
“I’m happy to say I’m feeling great,” she continued. “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.”
“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. I’m serious, call your doctors right now.”
“If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse,” she said. “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.”
Fischer added that she hopes sharing her breast cancer journey will be a source of support for any women going through the same.
The actress stressed that it “takes a village to fight cancer” and she’s proud of the support she’s gotten throughout her treatment. She thanked her team of doctors and nurses as well as her friends, family and fellow cancer survivors for helping her during the difficult time.
“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, sharing a sweet photo of the moment.
“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.”
I’m so happy to hear that Jenna is now cancer-free. Hopefully, the medications she’s on now to stay cancer-free will do their thang. I know two women who had to do infusions and take medicine daily, and if memory serves me correctly, they took it for five years. I also really appreciate Jenna opening up publicly about what she’s been through over the last year. It really is so important to share these stories because you never know whose life you may end up saving just by raising awareness. It’s also a good reminder that we never really know what someone is going through.
I turned 40 earlier this year and after booking it months in advance, finally have my first mammogram later this month. I’m a little nervous, ahh! Let this serve as a reminder to any of you out there that need to schedule their own mammos and keep forgetting to do so! Also, if you have any discomfort or something that doesn’t feel “right,” please make sure you get it looked at. Last year, my friend was diagnosed with Stage IV triple negative breast cancer 10 months after her routine mammogram didn’t find anything. The thing that tipped her off was that suddenly, her sports bras suddenly felt too tight and she was having trouble breathing while marathon-training. So, all of that said, here is your mammogram reminder! Keep this story up in a tab and don’t close it out until you’ve made that appointment.
My best wishes to everyone fighting cancer.
My college roommate passed away almost 3 years ago at age 42 from Stage IV breast cancer. She was diagnosed at 37 after going in to treat back pain and doctors found tumors in her spine from where the breast cancer had metastasized. She fought for 5 years but ultimately lost leaving behind her husband and a 10-year-old and 7-year-old daughter. She’s the reason I get my mammogram every single year.
I’m very happy for her!! I had the same diagnosis. I still take a pill to keep my chances of it coming back at bay. She is a pretty private. I like her cute little pixie hair.
I would never ever announce I was cancer free, because I’m superstitious when it comes to jinxing. I wish her many years of health and happiness.
I’m glad she is doing well and also glad she is publicizing the problem of dense breast tissue. For those of us who have it, we really need an alternative method, but most insurance doesn’t cover breast ultrasound. I had to pay almost $300 out of pocket for that. Mine resulted in an all clear, but I know someone else who also paid out of pocket for the ultrasound and that was the only way she discovered she had cancer because the mammograms didn’t see it at all. Insurers should cover this type of screening.
Totally agree. I also have dense breast tissue & had to get an ultrasound in addition to a mammogram to rule out the possibility of a tumor. It’s awful that it often isn’t covered by insurance.
I’m so happy for her. And yes, it’s a good thing that she’s raising awareness.
At age 50, I was automatically put on the list for yearly mammograms here in Spain. It was a painless procedure.
Colonoscopies, pap smears, mammograms. I never skip on those appointments.
Reading this article just prompted me to call and make my appointment for my mammogram. I have dense tissue and last year was told my results were inconclusive. I was told to not be alarmed, but to come back for an ultrasound which I did. Everything was fine but it still scared me that I had to come back for that extra step. Fortunately, the radiology place where I go lets you wait and get the results the same day. Anyway, thank you Jenna and CB for the reminder!
I did not have breast cancer (thank goodness) but I had a lump that was not detected on ultrasound or mammogram. The only test that showed it was an MRI.
I was sad for her hearing this news yesterday, but then so glad she’s doing well and has so much support around her.
Definitely get your screenings!
3 weeks ago, I went in for chest xray because of penicillin resistant pneumonia, and they found a spot in my breast (and some weird stuff in my lungs). 2 weeks ago, a CT scan showed lung stuff was same as it was 7 years ago, so nothing to worry about, but for sure a tumor in breast. 1 week ago, an Ultrasound was done with a biopsy immediately after (like 20 mins later) and on Tuesday, i was diagnosed with breast cancer. Still waiting for results to know what stage and what the treatment plan is. For sure surgery, but they started me on Tamoxifen 2 days ago and hope it will shrink the tumor enough in a few weeks to avoid chemo. All that to say, 1 in 8 women will get a breast cancer diagnosis in their life now. Ridiculous! Let’s demystify, support each other, do the right tests for your body (mammogram and Ultrasound) and be as healthy as you can otherwise. One never knows what will happen tomorrow, and today has enough trouble of it’s own, so stay positive for today!
My friends and I like to joke that to prepare for your first mammogram, take two heavy hardcover books, put them in the freezer for 24 hours, then take them out and smash your breast between them. It’s not far off the mark.
In all seriousness, ladies, get your girls checked every year. It can save your life.