Jenna Fischer's Breast Cancer Journey
- Actress Jenna Fischer—who was diagnosed with stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer in 2023 and beat the disease after completing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation—has revealed her recent bi-annual breast cancer screenings have come back “all clear.”
- Triple-positive breast cancer tends to be more responsive to hormone therapy, which essentially cuts off estrogen, progesterone, and HER2, which act like fuel for the cancer to grow.
- Conversely, “Triple-negative” means the cancer is not fueled by any of the three main types of receptors: estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. Because of this, the cancer won’t respond to certain common therapies.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, if you have a higher risk for breast cancer due to a family history or a genetic mutation, you should consider screening at age 40.
- Enhanced mammography exists and includes: 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and molecular breast imaging, which are options for women with dense breasts for a more precise screening. It is important to ask your doctor about your breast density and cancer risk.
- Check out SurvivorNet’s doctor‑supported platform, “My Health Questions,” an AI-powered tool for clarity and support.
Fischer took to social media to share the uplifting news, alongside a photo of herself smiling next to a mammogram machine.
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Fischer continued, “As you know, early detection of cancer is very important. Although mammography is the most accurate method for early detection, not all cancers are found through mammography.
“A thorough examination includes a combination of mammography, physical examination, and breast self-examination. Sincerely, Pam and her Pam Pams.”
Jenna Fischer Battle With Aggressive Breast Cancer
Fischer, now cancer-free, was diagnosed with stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer in December 2023.
Her diagnosis came after a routine mammogram – which screens for breast cancer – returned “inconclusive results,” as per a statement she shared on Instagram.
After undergoing a biopsy, a procedure that tests the breast tissue for signs of cancer, her diagnosis was confirmed on December 1.
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She was informed she had triple-positive breast cancer, which is a subtype of breast cancer where the tumor cells express estrogen (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein on its surface.
Triple-positive breast cancer tends to be more responsive to hormone therapy, which essentially cuts off the estrogen, progesterone, and HER2, which act like fuel for the cancer to grow.
Fischer explained, “[The cancer] is also highly responsive to treatment. In January [2024], I had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor.” A lumpectomy is a procedure that removes the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue.
“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 triple-positive breast cancer, it still required chemotherapy and radiation to be sure it didn’t return,” Fischer continued.
Understanding triple-negative breast cancer
You may have heard of a different type of aggressive breast cancer called triple-negative breast cancer, which is a type of breast cancer that is not fueled by any of the three main types of receptors — estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. Because of this, the cancer won’t respond to certain targeted therapies, including hormone therapy or HER2-targeted agents like Herceptin. Chemotherapy is typically the treatment, and several options exist, such as immunotherapy or participating in clinical trials.
If the triple-negative breast cancer patient does not have many symptoms, oral chemotherapy like Xeloda (generic name capecitabine) may be prescribed. If the patient becomes resistant to the oral chemo drug, IV (intravenous) chemotherapy may be offered weekly or bi-weekly.
12 Weeks of Chemo
In February 2024, Fischer completed 12 weekly chemotherapy sessions. She later began a three-week course of radiation therapy in June 2024.
“After completing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, I am now cancer-free,” Fischer publicly stated once she reached remission.
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Fischer’s battle with cancer has since prompted her to spread awareness on the importance of getting screened.
She explained in another Instagram post, “I shared about my own breast cancer diagnosis, which was discovered during a routine mammogram and ultrasound. I had been putting them off because… well, because it’s annoying trying to find the time for cancer screenings.
“Especially when you are juggling work and kids and school and holidays and all the things that come up in life. But luckily, I went when I did. My cancer was found early, and it was treatable.”
She concluded, “So, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to get your own recommended screenings – this is it. … Your health matters—seriously.
“Take a minute right now to check which screenings you need and book them. And if someone you love needs a nudge, send this their way!”
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Helpful Information About Breast Cancer Screening
Recently, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) upgraded its guidelines to suggest that women start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40. The task force notes that this lowered the age (the previous recommendation was to begin screening at age 45) for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
Expert Resources on Breast Cancer Screening
- In the Advanced Breast Cancer Space, A New Screening Recommendation & Drug Approval Provides Hope
- Free Mammograms And Increased Access To Cancer Screenings Focus Of New Bills Promoting Early Detection
- Mammograms Are Still the Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer — A Warning About Thermography
- New Guidelines Say Many Women Under 50 Can Skip Mammograms. That May Not Be The Best Advice
- Black Women May Need To Start Breast Cancer Screening At 42, According To A New Study
- I Have Dense Breasts. Do I Need a 3D Mammogram?
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, have dense breasts, have a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before age 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
WATCH: Understanding the BRCA gene mutation
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Breast density is determined through mammograms. However, women with dense breasts are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer because dense breast tissue can mask potential cancer during screening. 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and molecular breast imaging are options for women with dense breasts for a more precise screening. It is important to ask your doctor about your breast density and cancer risk.
RELATED: 3D Mammography Detects 34% More Breast Cancers Than Traditional Mammography
Family History & Breast Cancer Risk
Although breast cancer can happen to anyone, certain factors can increase a person’s risk of getting the disease. The known risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Older age
- Having a gene mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Increased exposure to estrogen
- Having children after the age of 30
- Exposure to radiation early in life
- Family history of the disease
RELATED: Is Genetic Testing Right for You?
Different types of genetic testing can help people with a family history of cancer better ascertain their cancer risks. Your doctor will discuss your family history of cancer with you in the context of your type of tumor and your age at diagnosis. Hereditary genetic testing is usually done with a blood or saliva test.
WATCH: Understanding genetic testing for breast cancer.
About ten percent of breast cancers are hereditary, says Dr. Ophira Ginsburg, Director of the High-Risk Cancer Program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
“We encourage only those with a family history to get [genetic testing],” Dr. Ginsburg previously told SurvivorNet. “I would say that if you have anyone in your family diagnosed with a rare cancer. Or if you have a strong family history of one or two kinds of cancer, particularly breast and ovarian, but also colon, rectal, uterine, and ovarian cancer, that goes together in another cancer syndrome called Lynch Syndrome.
The second test involves the genetic sequencing of your tumor if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer by this point. These genetic changes can be inherited, but most arise during a person’s lifetime. This process usually involves examining a biopsy or surgical specimen of your tumor. This testing can lead to decisions on drugs that might work against your cancer.
“Digital mammography, it turns out, significantly improves the quality of the mammogram… It’s 3D or tomosynthesis mammography,” Dr. Lehman explains.
“This allows us to find more cancers and significantly reduce our false-positive rate. With digital mammography 3D tomosynthesis, we’re taking thin slices through that breast tissue, like slices of a loaf of bread. We can look at each slice independently rather than trying to see through the entire thickness of the entire loaf of bread. So those thin slices help us find things that were hidden in all the multiple layers,” Dr. Lehman adds.
Additional testing can be considered for dense breasts, depending on a woman’s personal history, preferences, and her physician’s guidance.
Screening Options for Women with Dense Breasts
Women with dense breasts should get additional screening to supplement their mammograms. Dense breasts mean more fibro-glandular tissue and less fatty breast tissue exists.
The dense tissue has a “masking effect on how well we can perceive cancer and find cancer on mammograms,” Dr. Cindy Ly, a radiology doctor at NYU Langone Medical Center, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
Survivors Encourage Women to Ask Their Doctors About Dense Breasts
Glandular tissue within dense breasts appears white on mammograms, which can help mask potential cancer. The “frosted glass” effect from the glandular tissue can thus mask cancerous areas, especially developing ones. Undetected, these cancers can progress, growing large and advanced.
They will then likely require more intensive treatments to cure or can become incurable altogether.
Women with dense breasts may not know they have it based on feeling alone. It’s important to know that breast density is determined by its appearance on a mammogram. Dr. Connie Lehman, the chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, previously explained to SurvivorNet that fatty breast tissue appears gray on an X-ray.
Conversely, dense breast structures appear white during an X-ray. Cancers also appear white on an X-ray, meaning the dense breast structures can mask the possibility of cancer. Luckily, advanced mammograms exist to help doctors navigate this obstacle.
WATCH: 3D Mammograms explained.
“Digital mammography, it turns out, significantly improves the quality of the mammogram…It’s 3D or tomosynthesis mammography,” Dr. Lehman explains.
“This allows us to find more cancers and to significantly reduce our false-positive rate. With digital mammography 3D tomosynthesis, we’re taking thin slices through that breast tissue, like slices of a loaf of bread. We can look at each slice independently rather than trying to see through the entire thickness of the loaf of bread. So those thin slices help us find things that were hidden in all the multiple layers,” Dr. Lehman adds.
Additional testing can be considered for dense breasts, depending on a woman’s personal history, preferences, and her physician’s guidance. These tests include:
- 3-D Mammogram (Breast Tomosynthesis): This technology acquires breast imaging from multiple angles and digitally combines them into a 3D representation of the breast tissue. This allows physicians to see breast tissue architecture better, even in dense breasts. 3D mammograms are fast becoming the standard way of performing mammography.
- Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An MRI machine uses magnets to create highly detailed, intricate images of the breast. These are mostly reserved for women with an extremely high breast cancer risk. Dense breasts alone may not be a valid reason to obtain a breast MRI. However, dense breasts in women with genetic mutations, like BRCA1 and BRCA2, or a strong family history of breast cancer could justify obtaining breast MRIs.
- Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI): MBI is a newer imaging technique that uses a radioactive tracer to detect breast cancer. It is beneficial for women with dense breasts. However, MBI is not as widely available as other screening methods.
A new rule from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that facilities offering mammograms must notify patients about their breast tissue density and recommend they speak with a doctor to determine if further screening is necessary. There will be “uniform guidance” on what language to use and what details must be shared with the patient to make the communication clear and understandable.
Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams
Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally so something like a lump forming can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.
If you feel something abnormal, such as a lump or discharge from the nipple, you should contact your doctor for further examination.
Below are common symptoms to look out for:
- New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
- Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
- Swelling on all or part of the breast
- Skin dimpling or peeling
- Breast or nipple pain
- Nipple turning inward
- Redness or scaliness of breast or nipple skin
- Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding)
Learn Your Risk and Listen to the Guidelines: An Important Message About Breast Cancer Awareness
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
If you have a breast cancer screening coming up or have recently had one, you may have questions you want answered. SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool “My Health Questions” is designed specifically for patients and caregivers.
WATCH: How One Cancer Survivor and Her Sister Used “My Health Questions” to Navigate Care
This powerful resource is embedded across the SurvivorNet website and delivers structured responses grounded in clinical guidelines and medically reviewed research to help people better understand their treatment options and feel more confident navigating care.
My Health Questions can also help patients come up with useful questions ahead of their next appointment.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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