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“The Office” star Jenna Fischer has revealed her battle with an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Fischer, 50, shared an Instagram post on Tuesday detailing her cancer journey, which began 10 months ago with a stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer diagnosis. The cancer was detected early through diagnostic imaging before it was felt, and Fischer is now “cancer-free,” although he continues to take medication for treatment.

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I never thought I would make 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,” she captioned a photo of herself in her “patchy pixie” phase, where she was growing out her hair.

The actress, who co-hosts the “Office Ladies” podcast with co-star Angela Kinsey, shared her experiences in the following slides. The results of a mammogram were inconclusive due to the dense breast tissue – which makes it difficult to detect cancer on mammograms. A breast ultrasound and subsequent biopsy confirmed the presence of a tumor in her left breast.

After the tumor was surgically removed, she underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy, followed by three weeks of radiation in June.

Jenna Fischer Encourages: “Don’t Skip Your Mammogram”

Fischer’s announcement was shared to “ask you to get your annual mammograms. You can also ask your doctor to calculate your breast cancer risk assessment score and have any additional screening tests you need. I’m serious, call your doctor immediately.”

“My tumor was so small that it couldn’t be felt during a physical exam. If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. It could have spread,” she added. “Seeing women posting photos from their mammogram appointments on Instagram made me want to create my own (which I was late for). I'm so glad I did this. Consider this your kick in the butt to make it.”

“Don’t skip your mammogram. Believe Pam and her Pam Pams,” Fischer joked.

What is triple positive breast cancer?

Triple positive breast cancer, the diagnosis Fischer received, is estrogen receptor positive, progesterone receptor positive and HER2 positive.

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among American women. Breast cancer rates have risen 1% each year over the past decade, with women under 50 seeing the largest increase in cases, the American Cancer Society said in a report released last week.

The Affordable Care Act requires most insurance companies to cover annual mammography screenings for people age 40 and older. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force earlier this year recommended biennial mammography screenings ages 40 to 74 for people at average risk of breast cancer.

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“The Office” co-stars Angela Kinsey and Ellie Kemper show their support

Fischer's friends and “The Office” co-stars sent her congratulations in the comments below the post.

Kinsey – who played Angela on the NBC comedy – wrote: “I love you and am so glad you share. I always have your back. ❤️“

Ellie Kemper, aka Dunder Mifflin Scranton Secretary Erin, commented: “We love you Jenna ❤️❤️❤️ Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration.”

Olivia Munn, who spoke about her own breast cancer experience earlier this year, wrote to Fischer: “You already know how much I love you and how incredibly proud I am of you. But I just want to say it again: I love you,” and by sharing your story, you are helping so many women and saving so many lives. 💖💖💖💖

Jennifer Garner chimed in: “Congratulations @msjennafischer!! I am so grateful to know you are on the other side and cancer free! 💗”

Read Jenna Fischer's full statement about her breast cancer diagnosis

“In October 2023, I posted a photo on Instagram of myself preparing for my routine mammogram with the joking reminder, “Watch your ticking time bags,” a la Michael Scott. After the results of this mammogram were inconclusive due to the dense breast tissue, my doctor ordered a breast ultrasound. On December 1, 2023, I learned that I had triple positive breast cancer.

Triple positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer but also responds well to treatment. In January I had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor. Luckily, my cancer was caught early and had not spread to my lymph nodes or the rest of my body. However, due to the aggressive nature of triple-positive breast cancer, chemotherapy and radiation were still required to ensure it did not return. In February I began 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy and in June I began three weeks of radiation. And as I continue to be treated with Herceptin infusions and a daily dose of Tamoxifen, I am happy to say that I am doing great.

I lost my hair during chemotherapy, but thanks to some amazing wigs and hats with hair (which my family affectionately called Wigats), I was able to wait until now to reveal what all happened to me.

I am making this announcement for several reasons. First, I'm ready to throw away the wigs. Second, to ask you to get your annual mammograms. You can also ask your doctor to calculate your breast cancer risk assessment score and have any additional tests necessary. I'm serious, call your doctor immediately. My tumor was so small that it could not be felt during a physical exam. If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. It could have spread. Seeing women posting photos of their mammogram appointments on Instagram prompted me to set my own appointments (which I was late for). I'm so glad I did it. Consider this your kick in the butt to make it.

I also share the hope that it will be a source of support for any woman going through this. As anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer knows, your life changes instantly. It's all about doctor's appointments, test results, treatments and recovery from treatments. Suddenly everything in your life revolves around one thing: fighting cancer.

It takes a village to beat cancer and I had an amazing village.

Until this happened, I don't think I really knew the generosity and kindness that can pass from one person to another. It started with a team of doctors and nurses. All angels.

There were caregivers, some of whom I only saw once, who shared their own breast cancer stories with me. They seemed to be placed in my path at precisely the moments when I needed them most. I was connected to other cancer survivors who accompanied me on my journey. Strangers who are now sisters. It showed how powerful sharing can be for the next person who embarks on this journey.

Another big part of the village was my friends and family who surrounded us with their love and support. Each person had their own special way of taking care of us. Some people texted me every week during chemo, others walked with me, picked up our kids from school, dropped off food, went wig shopping with me, some sent me prayers in the form of audio messages. Every gesture, big or small, was felt. Everything was perfect. Plus, many people in my life didn't know about it until recently. And I needed that too. I needed spaces and people who didn't see me as a cancer patient.

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Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the second deadliest cancer. In 2023, an estimated 43,170 women died from breast cancer

Fortunately, I was able to continue working during the treatments. That was because I worked with my best friend, Angela Kinsey, who protected me and stood up for me. For a long time, she was the only person in my work area who knew. When I lost my hair, she wore hats to our work meetings so I wasn't the only one.

If I needed a break, we took one. I'm very lucky to have a career with this kind of flexibility. Cancer treatment requires a lot of flexibility. For a girl who loves planning, this was a difficult adjustment.

But continuing to work during the treatment gave me so much joy.

People often ask, “How are the kids?” My kids are 10 and 13. My kids are great. We took this trip as a family. They saw that I could do many of the same things as before, such as eating with the family and attending their school events. And they saw the limitations that cancer treatment placed on me, like going to bed before them and needing naps during the day. We informed their teachers and coaches, as well as any adults who might be able to support them. We relied on our community. They stopped us.

We mastered it together.

Finally, I have to mention my husband Lee, who has been by my side through all of this. And I mean literally by my side…surgery, chemotherapy, doctor's appointments, endless Googling, ugly screaming late into the night. He was there for everything. When I married him, I knew he was a good catch. I was right. After my final chemo and radiation treatments, Lee asked me if I wanted to do anything to celebrate. I said I just wanted to ring a bell with the kids in our backyard while everyone threw confetti. So we did it.

I'm happy to say I recently had a re-evaluation and the treatments worked. I am cancer free. I will continue to receive treatment and monitoring to keep it that way.

Again, don’t skip your mammogram. Believe Pam and her Pam Pams. Michael was right. Get them checked, ladies. And know this: If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, there is a village waiting to care for you.

That’s all for now, Jenna xoxo”

On By John Fenwick

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