The Office star Jenna Fischer has revealed that she was diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of breast cancer last year, but is now cancer-free after undergoing treatment.
The 50-year-old actor – who played Pam Beesly in the US adaptation of The Office – wrote about her experience with the illness in an emotional post on social media to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“I never thought I’d be making an announcement like this but here we are,” Fischer wrote in the caption.
“Last December, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer. After completing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation I am now cancer free.”
The actor opened up further about her cancer journey in a series of slides. “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,” she said.
“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. Triple positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer but it is also highly responsive to treatment.”
Fischer went on to explain that she subsequently underwent a lumpectomy in January 2024 to remove the tumour.
“Luckily my cancer was caught early and it hadn’t spread into my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body, however because of the aggressive nature of triple positive breast cancer it still required chemotherapy and radiation to be sure it didn’t return,” she said.
“In February I began 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy, and in June I started three weeks of radiation. And 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.”
Fischer 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.”
She then urged her followers to book their annual mammograms and ask their doctors to “calculate your Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score and get any additional screenings required”.
“I’m serious, call your doctor right now. My tumor was so small it could not be felt on a physical exam. If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. It could have spread,” Fischer explained.
Later in the post, the actor thanked her doctors, nurses, and her “friends and family who have surrounded us with their love and support”.
“Each person had their own special way of caring for us. Some people texted me every week of chemo, some took me for walks, picked up our kids from school, dropped off food, took me wig shopping, some sent prayers in the form of audio messages,” she wrote.
Steve Carell, B.J. Novak, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer and Rainn Wilson from ‘The Office’. CREDIT: Bob Riha Jr/WireImage
“Every gesture big or small was felt. All of it was perfect. Also, many people in my life didn’t know until very recently. And I needed that too. I needed spaces and people who did not regard me as a cancer patient.”
Fischer said that she had been able to continue working throughout her treatments. The actor currently hosts the Office Ladies podcast alongside her “best friend” and former co-star Angela Kinsey (who played Angela Martin).
She said Kinsey “protected me and advocated for me”, adding: “For a long time, she was the only person in my workspace who knew. When I lost my hair, she wore hats to our work meetings so I wouldn’t be the only one. When I needed a break, we took one. I am so lucky to have a career with this kind of flexibility.”
Fischer then thanked her husband – writer, director and actor Lee Kirk – “who has been by my side through all of this”.
She concluded: “Again, don’t skip your mammogram. Take it from Pam and her Pam Pams. Michael was right. Get ’em checked ladies. And know that should you get a breast cancer diagnosis, there is a village waiting to care for you. That’s all for now.”
Fischer portrayed Pam Beesly on The Office throughout all nine seasons of the show, spanning 2005 to 2013. This year, she played Ms Heron in the new musical film reboot of Mean Girls.
Earlier this year, Bryan Cranston – who directed an episode of The Office – proposed a movie adaptation of the US sitcom during an interview on Fischer and Kinsey’s Office Ladies.
Meanwhile, the official trailer for the new Australian version of The Office was released last month. The series is set to arrive on Amazon Prime next Friday (October 18).
English (US) · 