Jenna Fischer has revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer in a heartfelt post on social media.
The Office star, 50, is best known for playing Pam Beesly in the hit sitcom, revealed that she had been diagnosed last year and had undergone treatment.
She took to Instagram on Tuesday in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month as she shared her own experience with the disease.
Jenna told her followers: "October is breast cancer awareness month. I never thought I’d be making an announcement like this but here we are.
"Last December, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer. After completing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation I am now cancer free."
She added: "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.
"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."
She added that while triple positive breast cancer is "aggressive", it is also "highly responsive" to treatment, and while hers was caught early before it had spread to her lymph nodes, she still required chemo and radiotherapy to ensure it did not return.
Jenna also told her followers: "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.
"I’m making this announcement for a few reasons. One, I’m ready to ditch the wigs. Two, to implore you to get your annual mammograms. You can also ask your doctor to calculate your Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score and get any additional screenings required. I’m serious, call your doctors right now."
She explained: "If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. 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."
Jenna also thanked the "village" of people who'd helped her through her cancer journey, from the doctors and nurses who treated her to her friends and family who kept her spirits high and helped out with day-to-day life.
She added: "Don't skip your mammogram. Take it from Pam and her Pam Pams. Michael was right. Get 'em checked, ladies. And know that should you get a breast cancer diagnosis, there is a village waiting to care for you."
Jenna also shared a joyful photo of her celebrating the end of her treatment by ringing a bell in her backyard as her husband Lee Kirk and kids, son Weston Lee and daughter Harper Marie, threw confetti around her to mark the moment.
She also confirmed that a re-screening had shown that the treatment had worked and she has remained cancer-free.
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