Coping With Your Diagnosis, Sharing It With Others
- Actress Danielle Fishel, 43, from the ‘90s sitcom “Boy Meets World” revealed on a podcast she was diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer after undergoing a routine mammogram.
- Stage zero breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ are abnormal cells that line the duct in a breast. This type of cancer is non-invasive and is highly treatable if caught in its early stages.
- After hesitating whether to share her diagnosis publicly, she decided by doing so, she could help other cancer patients struggling to cope.
- Some people battling a disease or cancer are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches and everything in between are valid.
Actress Danielle Fishel, 43, best known for her role as “Topanga” on the ‘90s sitcom “Boy Meets World” says she’s on the verge of having surgery for breast cancer. Fishel admitted she was initially hesitant to share her diagnosis publicly but felt by doing so; she could help many other women cope with a breast cancer diagnosis.
“It’s technically stage zero. To be specific, I was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) with micro-invasion,” Fishel said on the Pod Meets World podcast, which she and co-stars Rider Strong and Will Friedle hosts while reliving classic episodes.
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However, the actress shares her change of heart.
“What I realized is the more people I talk to, the more people had their own experiences, either themselves being diagnosed with cancer or a family member who’s been diagnosed with cancer,” Fishel said.
She is grateful her annual mammogram helped her detect the cancer before it had a chance to mature.
“If it’s time for your appointment, if you’ve never had an appointment before, get in there. If you have to find out that you have cancer, find out when it’s at stage zero, if possible,” Fishel said.
Fishel says she still has to meet with more doctors and specialists as she begins her breast cancer journey.
Helping Patients Cope with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Understanding Fishel’s Early-Stage Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Stage zero breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ are abnormal cells that line the duct in a breast. A normal breast comprises many ducts carrying milk to the nipple in a lactating woman. This type of breast cancer is not invasive, meaning it has not spread outside the milk duct and can’t invade other parts of the breast.
Some oncologists approach stage zero breast cancer with a watch-and-wait approach, meaning no invasive procedure happens immediately. Other oncologists may opt to perform surgery followed by possible radiation.
WATCH: I Have Stage Zero Breast Cancer: What Should I Do?
SurvivorNet experts say if DCIS is left untreated, it may develop into more advanced breast cancer.
Figuring Out If You’re Ready to Share Your Diagnosis
Some people battling a disease or cancer 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.
WATCH: Sharing a Diagnosis
“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 explains.
Plutchik says patients consider questions like “How much information should they share and with whom should they share the information?”
Dr. Plutchik explains, “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”
A cancer journey can last months to years, which means cancer warriors may be experiencing a lot of uncertainty until they fully understand where their health stands. This uncertainty can influence when a cancer patient is ready to share their diagnosis, Dr. Plutchik further explained.
Dr. Plutchik stresses 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.
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