"If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. It could have spread..." the actor said. (Photo: Instagram/@msjennafischer)
Actor Jenna Fischer, who starred as 'Pam' in the famous American sitcom 'The Office', recently revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer last year. The 50-year-old took to Instagram to share a long and heartfelt post that detailed her experience with cancer in order to raise awareness about it during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is October. Fischer stated that she had stage 1 triple positive breast cancer which, according to Breast Cancer.org, is a cancer whose growth is triggered by estrogen and progesterone hormones, along with the 'HER2' protein.
A breast cancer is said to be triple-positive when it meets the following factors: receptors for estrogen (estrogen receptor-positive); receptors for progesterone (progesterone receptor-positive); high levels of HER2 proteins that act as receptors (HER2-positive). Its symptoms are the same as that of other kinds of invasive breast cancer: a lump or mass in the breast or underarm.
"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," the actor announced in her post. "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," she joked, referring to actor Steve Carell's iconic character on the show.
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"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."
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In her post, Fischer explained that triple positive breast cancer is quite aggressive, but it also responds to treatment. In January this year, she had a lumpectomy to remove the tumour. It was caught early and had not spread to her lymph nodes or anywhere else in the body. But, because this cancer is of 'aggressive nature', the actor required chemotherapy and radiation.
In February, she began 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy, and in June, she underwent radiation. She has also been treated with infusions of some other medications. "I'm happy to say I'm feeling great."
"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," Fischer 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 doctors right now," she wrote.
The actor also said that her tumour was too small to be felt during physical examination. "If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. It could have spread..." The mother-of-two concluded her post by writing that she was recently re-screened: her treatments have worked and she is now cancer free. "I will continue to be treated and monitored to help me stay that way."
