Jenna Fischer is opening up about her health.
The 50-year-old The Office actress, who plays Pam in the series, revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
On Tuesday (October 8), Jenna shared a health update in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
“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 began, referring to the show’s character, played by Steve Carell.
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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,” she continued.
She shared that she had a lumpectomy in January to remove the tumor, which was luckily caught early and hadn’t spread, but to the “aggressive nature” of her cancer, she required chemotherapy and radiation.
She underwent 12 rounds of chemo starting in February and three weeks of radiation in June, and has since been treated with infusions of two other medications.
“I’m happy to say I’m feeling great,” she continued.
“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.”
“I’m making this announcement for a few reasons,” she explained. “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,” she said.
“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…. Suddenly everything in your life is geared around one thing: fighting cancer.”
Jenna added that it “takes a village to fight cancer” and she’s proud of the support she’s gotten throughout her treatment.
“After my final chemo and radiation treatments, [husband] 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 wrote.
“I’m happy to say that I was recently re-screened, and the treatments worked. I am cancer free. I will continue to be treated and monitored to help me stay that way. Again, don’t skip your mammogram…. And know that should you get a breast cancer diagnosis, there is a village waiting to care for you,” she concluded.
We’re so happy to hear that Jenna is cancer free! For breast cancer risk assessment, head here.