Actress Jenna Fischer, most well known for playing the part of Pam Beesly on the legendary hit comedy series, “The Office,” just recently revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago, but as of today, is completely cancer free. The reason she decided to come forward about the diagnosis now is because October is breast cancer awareness month.
It’s good to hear she’s doing well now. The world needs a little more Pam Beesly in it right now. “The Office” is probably the greatest comedy sitcom of all-time and her character was a huge part of the reason why it was successful. Every member of the cast was magical and just perfect in the roles they were given. There’s been talk for a long time of possibly rebooting the series and catching up with old characters, which is more likely to happen if Fischer is healthy.
“October is breast cancer awareness month,” Fischer stated in an Instagram post published on Tuesday. “I never thought I’d be making 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,” Fischer elaborated in the post. “I wanted a photo of myself in my patchy pixie looking happy and healthy to go along with this news.”
Fischer then gave a much longer statement in the post explaining everything that has taken place over the last year.
Here’s the statement via Breitbart:
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. 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. In January, I had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor. 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. 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.
“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,” Fischer continued.
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Fischer then said that she decided to come forward about what happened for several different reasons.
“One, I’m ready to ditch the wigs,” she stated. “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,” the actress revealed. “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.”
Fischer said that after her chemotherapy wrapped up, her family celebrated by ringing a bell in the backyard and tossing confetti in the air. She then said she was re-screened recently and the treatments were successful, adding that she is now cancer free and will be treated and monitored to ensure she stays that way.