Jenna Fischer & Diagnosis Candor
- The Office star Jenna Fischer, 50, has given her first in-depth interview about her breast cancer journey after going public with news of her 2023 triple-positive diagnosis earlier this month. The mom of two is now cancer-free.
- Sitting down with TODAY‘s Hoda Kotb, a fellow breast cancer survivor, Fischer shared how former Hall Pass co-star Christina Applegate’s “salty” reaction gave her comfort as she processed the news, connecting her to other survivors she could go through it “together” with.
- Triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC) is a subtype of HER2-positive breast cancer where the tumor cells have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and a larger than normal number of HER2 receptors on their surface. The protein HER2 manages how cells grow and divide.
- To learn more about HER2-positive cancer, which is classified as an invasive and often fast-growing type of cancer, check out SurvivorNet’s guide to help you through in the weeks and months after your diagnosis.
“All of the most important things became so clear, so quickly,” Fischer, who is thankfully now cancer-free, told fellow survivor Hoda Kotb, 60, during a sit-down on NBC’s TODAY. “I find the world to be such a beautiful place in all of its quirkiness and even things that used to irritate me, now I find charming — like traffic.”
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One of the first people Fischer called was Applegate, a 16-year breast cancer survivor who has been navigating another challenging disease since 2021: multiple sclerosis (MS), which is a debilitating neurological condition.
The pair starred in the 2011 comedic film Hall Pass together. “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 F’ing knew it,'” Fischer said, editing the “F-word” during the segment.
“She’s salty. Salty language that one. I love her for it,” she added of the Dead to Me actress.
Fischer said that the Married with Children star and fellow Emmy winner put her in touch with other survivors she could take the journey with “together.”
After being told she had triple-positive breast cancer and that she would be undergoing chemotherapy, Fischer told Kotb she “lost it.”
Triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC) is a subtype of HER2-positive breast cancer where the tumor cells have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and a larger than normal number of HER2 receptors on their surface, typically referred to as ER-positive, PR-positive and HER2-positive. Depending on which type you have, it determines your specific course of treatment.
“The first thing I thought was, I don’t want to throw up and I don’t want to lose my hair.”
Admitting she never had a “big shave your head” moment, instead she tried to do “a real elaborate comb-over” to help cover the “big bald patch” down the side of her head.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I understand why the gentlemen do this now,'” she cracked.
Humor and Staying Active Helped
“Humor helped through all of this. And working helped. And staying in the world helped,” she said, noting that her oncology nurse, Ron, was simply “amazing” throughout the daunting experience.
“When I started chemotherapy, he said to me, ‘Listen, I want you to get up every day and I want you to walk. Every day. I want you to drink a ton of water. Walking and water. That’s what I want you to do. And I want you to take care of those kids. The women who get up and at it are the women who do better in my experience.'”
Fischer shared that she was “very honest” with Weston Lee, 13, and Harper Marie, 10 (her kids with her husband of 14 years, actor Lee Kirk, 52) explaining that her side effects would be from the treatment that was helping her, “they weren’t cancer making me sick.”
A Routine Mammogram Saved Her Life
Noting that her tumor was “very small” and “too small to feel,” Fischer said that it truly was her routine mammogram that saved her from it being much worse.
“A self-exam would not have [caught the cancer]. It really was the routine mammogram that started all of this. And I’m so grateful I went to that appointment.”
Because of that checkup, Fischer thankfully caught the disease early with no lymph node involvement, and underwent a lumpectomy, which means surgery to only remove the cancer tumor and remnants of disease. She had 12 weekly rounds of chemotherapy infusions and radiation.
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“If I had waited six more months, it could have been much worse. It could have spread. It was a very aggressive form of cancer.”
Fischer explained that she has to take the estrogen-blocker Tamoxifen (which prevents estrogen from helping cancer cells grow) and Herceptin for the next year. This targeted therapy, which is matching treatment to disease based on very specific characteristics such as genetic mutations, has changed the way many cancers are treated.
What is Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer?
There are side effects for some patients taking Tamoxifen, many of which mimic menopause (like hot flashes), but they can be managed.
Tamoxifen is a commitment. For women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, patients are typically put on the Tamoxifen pill for five to 10 years and there is evidence that taking it for 10 years is more effective than taking it for five.
In addition, it’s a treatment that when taken alone or in combination with chemotherapy reduces the chance of having a breast cancer spread.
Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat or manage cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, healthy cells are also impacted in the process, leading to side effects.
Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle, previously told SurvivorNet.
“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” added Dr. Urban. Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist.
While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:
- Weakness in the hands or feet
- Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
- Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
- Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the lining of the stomach, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to these side effects.
Doctors can help patients mitigate these symptoms with various medications before, during, and after treatment.
“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications,” Dr. Urban explained. “We also ensure that patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment.”
Hair Loss
Hair loss is another side effect of chemotherapy. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment. It happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Coping with hair loss
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
Deciding to Share a Cancer Diagnosis
After a cancer diagnosis, many are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves or close loved ones. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches, and everything in between, are valid.
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously explained to SurvivorNet.
Should I disclose my cancer diagnosis?
Questions like, “How much information should I share and with whom should I share the information?” are things Plutchik says patients will often wonder. “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”
A cancer journey can last from just a few months to years to a lifetime, which means patients may be experiencing a lot of uncertainty until they fully understand where their health stands. This uncertainty can influence when someone is ready to share their diagnosis, Dr. Plutchik noted.
Dr. Plutchik also stressed that those close to a person going through cancer should be respectful of their wishes when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis and seeking support.
Many Parents Going Through Cancer Find Strength in Their Children
Hoy referenced his young children for sharing his diagnosis. Sometimes, children offer parent patients moral support while battling cancer directly or indirectly. We often hear parents say things like, “I’m going to beat this for my children.”
Facing cancer as a parent can be incredibly daunting. Fearful thoughts about leaving your children may creep into your mind and add even more to your overflowing plate.
“No matter what your prognosis is, it’s essential to talk openly and honestly with kids,” said Laura Nathan-Garner, Director of Strategic Communications at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
RELATED: Telling Your Kids You Have Cancer: ‘When it Comes to Your Kids, You Want to Protect Them’
“Cancer patients with children can have increased motivation to endure difficult treatment but may also be concerned about the emotional impact of the illness on their offspring,” Dr. Cindy Moore of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center explained to The ASCO Post, an oncology newspaper.
Dr. Moore said those with children should discuss their most significant concerns with their healthcare teams so an effective communication plan can be created.
When Should I Start Getting Mammograms?
The medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms.
However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
For women with a family history of breast cancer, doctors say earlier screening is advisable in conjunction with counseling from your physician.
Although a breast cancer diagnosis is never easy, some women describe it as a wake-up call that actually helped them improve their lives by allowing them to focus on what matters most and practice better self-care. Taking good care of yourself by exercising, eating right, and limiting alcohol intake will help to ensure that you stay healthy and cancer-free once your treatment ends.
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