The Office actress Jenna Fischer was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer last year, she said on Wednesday, opening up about her recovery journey that involved surgery and chemotherapy.
“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,” the 50-year-old actress wrote on Instagram with a reference to Steve Carell’s character from The Office. “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 Dec. 1, 2023, I learned I had Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer,” she added.
Fischer said that she was diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of breast cancer but one that is also highly responsive to treatment. She underwent a lumpectomy to remove the tumour and started going through chemotherapy in February, a weekly plan that lasted 12 sessions followed by three weeks of radiation starting in June.
“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,” the actress, who played the role of Pam Beesly in the hit American sitcom, said.
Fischer lost her hair during the treatment, which led her to use “great wigs and hats with hair” that her family referred to as “wigats”, she said. While she battled in private, the actress was surrounded by “an amazing village” of friends, family and loved ones.
“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. 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,” she said.
Fischer further explained how her children and husband responded to the news. “We took this journey as a family,” she said. Her husband, Lee Kirk, stood by her side for surgeries, chemo sessions, doctor’s appointments, “endless googling” and “late night ugly cries”. She added, “He was there for it all. I knew he was a catch when I married him. I was right.”
“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,” she signed off. A picture shared by her in the Instagram carousel shows her celebratory moment with her family.
