Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel has been diagnosed with breast cancer, specifically, “ductal carcinoma in situ.”
The 43-year-old actress, who portrayed the beloved Topanga on the show, announced the health news on her “Pod Meets World” podcast, with she co-hosts with two of her Boy Meets World co-stars, Rider Strong and Will Friedle.
Keep reading to find out more…
She opened the episode by sharing, “I would like to share something with our listeners, something that Rider and Will were two of the first people I told the news to. I was recently diagnosed with DCIS, which stands for ductal carcinoma in situ, which is a form of breast cancer. It is very, very, very early. It’s technically stage zero. To be specific, just because I like too much information all the time, I was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS with micro-invasion.”
She continued, “I’m going to be fine. I’m having surgery to remove it. I’m going to be on some follow-up treatment. I’ve had to make a lot of decisions over the last couple of days.”
“The only reason I caught this cancer when it is still stage zero is because the day I got my text message that my yearly mammogram had come up, I made the appointment,” she shared. “They found it so, so, so early that I’m going to be fine. I hope it will encourage anyone to get in there.
“If you have to find out you have cancer, find out at stage zero if possible,” she urged all the listeners.
Rider then added, “Right now, my wife and I know four people — four friends — who are dealing with breast cancer.”
Will shared, “We’re so glad you didn’t [put it off] because you are going to be fine. You might have some sucky days, but we’re here for you.”
Here’s what the Mayo Clinic says about DCIS: “Ductal carcinoma in situ is a very early form of breast cancer. In ductal carcinoma in situ, the cancer cells are confined inside a milk duct in the breast. The cancer cells haven’t spread into the breast tissue. Ductal carcinoma in situ is often shortened to DCIS. It’s sometimes called noninvasive, preinvasive or stage 0 breast cancer.”
We’re wishing Danielle all the best as she undergoes treatment.
