Jenna Fischer shares how her two children reacted to her breast cancer journey
In an Instagram post, Jenna Fischer revealed she had privately been battling breast cancer after going for a routine mammogram late last year. The Office alum shared her story in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, noting that she had been late on scheduling her appointment, but finally did after seeing other women share their mammogram photos on social media—and she’s hoping to inspire other women to do the same.
“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 wrote, referring to one of Steve Carrell’s many in-character jokes on the beloved sitcom. “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.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenna Fischer (@msjennafischer)
Fischer shared that it was an “aggressive” form of cancer, but also “highly responsive to treatment.” In January, her tumor was removed via lumpectomy, following up with 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy and three weeks of radiation treatments to ensure the cancer wouldn’t return.
“If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse,” she added. “It could have spread.”
Adding that she is currently cancer-free, the 50-year-old continues to “be treated with “infusions of Herceptin and a daily dose of Tamoxifen,” adding, “I’m happy to say I’m feeling great.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenna Fischer (@msjennafischer)
The Mean Girls star shared that she’d been wearing wigs after losing her hair during chemotherapy, but now she’s “ready to ditch the wigs.” She also noted that her close friend and Office co-star Angela Kinsey supported her every step of the way, with the pair able to continue recording episodes of their Office Ladies podcast.
Fischer said Kinsey “protected me and advocated for me,” adding, “For a long time, she was the only person in my workplace 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.”
“It takes a village to fight cancer, and I have had an amazing village,” she continued, noting that she had never realized the “kindness that could rain down from one person to another.” The mom of two thanked the doctors, nurses, caregivers, and fellow cancer survivors who supported her throughout the process, sharing that her friends and family stepped up in ways big and small.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenna Fischer (@msjennafischer)
Of her husband, screenwriter Lee Kirk, and their two children, she shared, “My kids are great. We took this journey as a family.”
Fischer added that all she wanted when she finished cancer treatments was to “ring a bell, with the kids, in our backyard, with everyone throwing confetti,” sharing the joyful photo of her family celebrating together.
She made her diagnosis public in an effort to encourage other women to schedule routine checkups, after she’d been late on scheduling her own.
“Again, don’t skip your mammogram,” she wrote. “And know that should you get a breast cancer diagnosis, there is a village waiting to care for you.”
