Jenna Fischer Announces She is Cancer-Free After Breast Cancer Treatment
Actress Jenna Fischer has revealed she has been receiving treatment for breast cancer since December last year. Best known for her role as receptionist Pam Beesly in the US version of The Office, Jenna said she was “now cancer-free” after surgery and multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
“I’m happy to say I’m feeling great,” Jenna shared on Instagram, adding she was opening up about her treatment to encourage others to check for signs of the disease. “If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse.”
Jenna, who also hosts the Office Ladies podcast, played Pam in the mockumentary series between 2005 and 2013 alongside Steve Carrell, who plays regional manager Michael Scott. The much-memed series, based on a BBC series of the same name written by and starring Ricky Gervais, is one of the most-watched shows on Netflix and repeatedly ranks among the most popular US sitcoms.
Jenna explained that her cancer was found after a routine scan in October 2023, which she had been putting off. “Seeing women post photos of their mammogram appointments on Instagram needled me into setting my own (which I was late for),” she wrote. After that appointment, further tests found she had “stage 1 triple positive breast cancer.” She noted that although her cancer was caught early, the tumor was aggressive and required extensive treatment.
Understanding Triple Positive Breast Cancer
Triple positive breast cancer is a type of hormone receptor-positive cancer, meaning the tumors are stimulated to grow by hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and the HER2 protein found in the body. This type of cancer is more likely to respond positively to targeted drug treatments.
According to the NHS, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the UK, but men can also be affected. Over 50,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, with figures from Cancer Research suggesting that one in every seven women will face this diagnosis in their lifetime.
Although the disease still claims over 11,000 lives each year, survival rates are improving, with 76% of patients surviving at least 10 years post-diagnosis.
During her chemotherapy, Jenna experienced hair loss and shared a photo on Instagram of her “patchy pixie” cut as it regrew. She expressed her desire to “ditch the wigs” she had been wearing for the past year and mentioned how many people in her life were unaware of her treatment journey.
However, she highlighted the significant support she received from those who knew, particularly from her co-star Angela Kinsey. “When I lost my hair, she wore hats to our work meetings to ensure I wasn’t the only one,” Jenna recalled.
Jenna reassured her followers that she will continue to be treated and monitored, urging, “Get ’em checked ladies.” She emphasized that her tumor was so small it could not be felt during a physical exam, highlighting the importance of regular screenings.
“Should you get a breast cancer diagnosis,” she wrote, “there is a village waiting to care for you.” This message serves as a powerful reminder for early detection and the community support available for those facing similar battles.