Photo: Instagram, msjennafischer
The Office star Jenna Fischer has revealed that she has been undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment for stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer.
In a post on Instagram, Fischer said she was now "cancer free", after a diagnosis in December last year.
The 50-year-old, best known for her role as Pam Beesly in the US version of the hit sitcom, had a tumour removed from her left breast in January this year.
"Triple positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer but it is also highly responsive to treatment," she shared on social media.
"In January, I had a lumpectomy to remove the tumour. Luckily my cancer was caught early and it hadn't spread into my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body, however because of the aggressive nature of the triple breast cancer it still required chemotherapy and radiation to make sure it didn't return."
Jenna Fischer is best-known for her role as Pam Beesly in the the US version of the The Office. Photo: NBC Universal
She underwent 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy in February and started three weeks of radiation treatment in June.
"I lost my hair during chemotherapy but thanks to some great wigs and hats with hair... I have been able to wait until now to reveal all that has been going on for me," she said.
Praised for sharing diagnosis
Fischer, who has two children aged 10 and 13, with husband Lee Kirk, thanked hospital staff, family and friends for their support.
"People often ask, 'How are the kids?' My kids are 10 and 13. My kids are great. We took this journey as a family."
She was inundated with messages of support online from friends, including The Office co-star Angela Kinsey.
"I love you and I'm so glad you're sharing. I got your back, always," Kinsey commented on the post.
Actor Olivia Munn, who had recently had a double mastectomy, also praised Fischer for opening up about her diagnosis.
"You already know how much I love you and how incredibly proud of you I am," she said.
"I love you and by sharing your story you're helping so many women and saving so many lives. You're just the best," she wrote.
Source of support
Fischer said she hoped her announcement would encourage women to get their annual mammograms, but also act as a source of support for those going through the same thing.
"As anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis knows, your life changes immediately," she said.
"It takes a village to fight cancer, and I have had an amazing village.
"Until this happened, I don't think I really knew the generosity and kindness that could rain down from one person to another."
The Office, which had nine seasons from 2005 to 2013, followed the lives of a group of typical office workers in a mockumentary series.
The series was based on the original UK show, starring comedian Ricky Gervais.
An Australian remake of the series was recently announced and will star Felicity Ward as Hannah Howard, the first woman to lead any iteration of The Office.
This story first appeared on [www.abc.net.au ABC]
