October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and The Office star Jenna Fischer is marking the occasion by revealing her own recent battle with the disease.
On Oct. 8, the actress took to Instagram to recount her health journey since sharing a photo of a routine mammogram on October 2023. That doctor's visit led to more tests that led to a diagnosis of triple positive breast cancer in December 2023.
"Triple positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer but it is also highly responsive to treatment," Fischer explained in her confessional post. She had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor back in January of this year, but "because of the aggressive nature of triple positive breast cancer, it still required chemotherapy and radiation to be sure it didn't return." She began a 12-week chemotherapy regimen in February and started radiation in June.
Fischer went on to thank her "amazing village" of doctors, nurses, caregivers, and medical professionals as well as other cancer survivors who helped her on her way. "It reinforced just how powerful sharing can be for the next person taking this journey," she reflected, acknowledging this was why she wanted to share her own story.
She gave a special shoutout to friend and Office co-star Angela Kinsey, with whom she currently co-hosts the Office rewatch podcast Office Ladies. "[She] protected me and advocated for me," Fischer said. "For a long time, she was the only person in my workspace who knew." Kinsey had Fischer's back with displays of care like wearing hats to work meetings when she lost her hair or taking breaks together when Fischer needed one.
Thankfully, Fischer can now look back on her health journey over the past year with a sense of accomplishment.
"I'm happy to say that I was recently re-screened, and the treatments worked. I am cancer-free," she declared, adding that she "will continue to be treated and monitored" to ensure it doesn't return.
It's never too early to take on preventative care, so encourage your loved ones to schedule a mammogram if they haven't.
