‘The Office’ star Jenna Fischer reveals cancer diagnosis

Posted On October 9, 2024October 9, 2024

Jenna Fischer, the actor best known for her role in The Office, announced that she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer last year. Thankfully, she’s now cancer-free after undergoing treatment in private. 

Fischer, the actor who played Pam Beesly in the US version of The Office, shared the news in an emotional social media post to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is currently underway in the United States. She shared that she’d been diagnosed with a severe form of cancer but has already undergone treatment for it.

“I never thought I’d be making an announcement like this but here we are,” Fischer wrote in a statement, continuing, “Last December, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer. After completing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation I am now cancer free.”

Across a series of images, she shared insights into her cancer journey and recovery. She added in the caption, “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.”

“After inconclusive results on that mammogram due to dense breast tissue, my doctor ordered a breast ultrasound. They found something in my left breast,” she continued. “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.”

The actor explained that in January, she had a lumpectomy 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 wrote.

“In February I began 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy, and in June I started three weeks of radiation,” she continued, adding “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.”

She revealed that she’s kept the news secret with her help of wigs as she said, “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.”

But now, she’s chosen to reveal the news to the fans in the hopes that her experience could help others. To her followers, she wrote, “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.

She also used the social media post to thank her friends, family and loved ones for getting her through the scary health experience. She said, “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 portrayed the beloved role of Pam Beesly in The Office for all nine seasons from 2005 to 2013. She’s also starred in countless comedy movies and TV shows, and she now runs a podcast called Office Ladies with her fellow The Office star, Angela Kinsey, where they’re revisiting each episode and sharing behind-the-scenes insight.

Furthermore, she thanked Kinsey for her support, claiming that her friend and colleague “protected me and advocated for me”. Fischer said, “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 finished the post by once again imploring her fans and followers to take their health seriously and get checked. “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.”

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