Jenna Fischer, who famously played the character Pam Beasley on the hit NBC show “The Office” revealed to the world earlier this month that she had breast cancer.
While the news was shocking, what was more shocking was how Fischer felt compelled to keep the news a secret as she continued to work.
Yesterday, in an exclusive interview with Hota Kotb on the TODAY show, Fischer detailed her secret health battle to the public for the first time.
On Oct. 8, Fischer shared an Instagram post for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, revealing she had been diagnosed with Stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer in December 2023.
She wrote that after undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, she’s now cancer free.
The Office's Jenna Fischer Says Breast Cancer Diagnosis Made the Important Things in Life 'So Clear So Quickly' https://t.co/rnmW4NRlmC
— People (@people) October 21, 2024
The news was a surprise to many of her fans as she worked alongside her “Office” co-star Angela Kinsey (who played Angela Martin on the show) on their hit podcast “The Office Ladies” and never missed a beat during that time.
However, after a routine mammogram revealed that Fischer had some abnormalities, a second look revealed that it was indeed breast cancer.
Fischer told Kotb that she felt “no level of concern” when she went back for her breast ultrasound. However, they then asked her to do a biopsy, saying it likely was a “10% chance it’s cancerous.”
Fischer said she was on a hike by herself when she received the results via her patient portal.
“I checked the portal on the hike, and that’s when I saw words like ‘invasive,’ ‘ductal,’ ‘carcinoma,’ ‘malignant,’” she said. “And I was like, ‘Those words sound like cancer words.’”
When her doctor told her of her diagnosis, Fischer said she just felt “disbelief.”
“I think the word that really got me was when we found out that I was triple-positive and my oncologist said chemotherapy. That was when I really lost it,” she said.
Fischer also opened up to Hoda about the reality of losing her hair during chemotherapy, which she said was one of the side effects she was most concerned about.
“I started by having just a big bald patch down this side of my head. And I would kind of do a real elaborate comb-over,” she said, laughing. “I was like, ‘Oh, I understand why the gentlemen do this now. Yes, I can sort of pretend like that isn’t there for a while.’”
Although Fischer said she considered it, she never had a “big shave-your-head moment.” Aside from styling her new part, she said she also opted to wear more hats and wigs during treatment.
But perhaps Fischer’s biggest revelation was who she leaned on during her cancer battle.
Fischer revealed one of the first people she called after receiving her diagnosis was famous pop star Christina Applegate.
“I called her, and she answered the phone, and she said, ‘Which one is it?’ And I said, ‘It’s breast cancer.’ And she said, ‘I effing knew it.’” Fischer recalled of their conversation. “She’s salty. Salty language that one. I love her for it.”
Fischer said Applegate put her in touch with fellow survivors and that they took on her journey “together.”
Thankfully, Fischer also revealed that she is officially cancer-free.