Jenna Fischer Shares She's 'Cancer-Free' After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

This week, The Office alum Jenna Fischer shocked her Instagram followers with news that she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer last December.

Fischer made the announcement on Tuesday (October 8), confirming that she's "cancer free" in a detailed message about her health journey. The update also comes in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with the 50-year-old urging her followers to get an annual mammogram.

"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," Fischer's post began. "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."

By January, Fischer successfully had the tumor removed during a lumpectomy, but while the cancer hadn't spread, it had an "aggressive nature," requiring the actress to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. After 12 rounds of chemo, beginning in February and 3 weeks of radiation since June, Fischer fulfilled both treatments and has since undergone infusion therapy with two additional treatments.

Now, Fischer shares that she's "feeling great" and playfully remarked about temporarily wearing wigs due to hair loss.

"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 wrote.

“If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse,” Fischer added. "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."

Fischer concluded the post by sharing a sentimental moment when she rang the bell while her husband, Lee Kirk, and their children, Weston, 12, and Harper, 9, celebrated by tossing confetti in their backyard after her chemo and radiation treatments were done.

"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," Fischer wrote. "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."

Fischer is among other actresses who were diagnosed with breast cancer over the past year, like Danielle Fishel and Olivia Munn , who also had a hysterectomy during her lengthy treatment.

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