Jenna Fischer, best known as Pam from “The Office,” recently shared on Instagram details of her battle with stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer, diagnosed after a routine mammogram. There, and later on “Today,” Fischer shared that she’s now cancer-free following surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. She’s currently receiving targeted therapies to help maintain remission.

“I still have my port,” Fischer shared during her “Today” interview, referring to the small medical device implanted under the skin to administer medication directly to the bloodstream. She expects to continue treatment through February 2025.

For the 50-year-old actor, the experience brought emotional challenges, especially when explaining her condition to her young children. “I wanted them to know that any ways that I seemed sick during this process were side effects of treatments. They weren’t cancer making me sick,” she said.

While Fischer initially kept her diagnosis private, she decided to go public to encourage others facing breast cancer treatment. “I know that there’s a lady right now who’s sitting on a bench at the end of her bed with her pillow, and she’s wondering, ‘What’s next for me?’” Fischer said. “And I just want to be, like, no. You’re going to get off that bench. You’re going to get your life back. You’re not even going to believe all the beauty and wonder that is ahead of you through this journey.”

Finding Positivity and Perspective

Through her journey, Fischer says her outlook on life has profoundly changed. She now finds joy and beauty in everyday moments — even those she once found frustrating. “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 sometimes find charming,” she said. “Like, you know, just traffic, like, ‘Oh, look at you, cute traffic. Look at all the people just going places.’”

Fischer’s story emphasizes the importance of regular screenings and the resilience required in the face of a cancer diagnosis.

Read about five other celebrities who have shared their breast cancer journeys.

Find Your Team

On MyBCTeam, the social network for people living with breast cancer and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with breast cancer.

Have you experienced a shift in perspective after a health challenge? What keeps you motivated on hard days? Share your thoughts below, start a conversation on your Activities page, or connect with likeminded members in Groups.