'Don't skip your mammogram.' Jenna Fischer shares her breast cancer journey
Fischer, known for her performance on "The Office" and a New York Times bestselling author, posted the news on Instagram and credited a routine screening for finding her Stage 1 cancer.
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A Nuvance Health cancer surgeon who has operated on women in the tri-state area says actress Jenna Fischer's decision to share her battle with breast cancer shows why it is important to get a cancer screening.
Fischer, known for her performance on "The Office" and a New York Times bestselling author, posted the news on Instagram and credited a routine screening for finding her Stage 1 cancer.
"That's the importance of getting your mammogram because we can catch tumors early, and it's been proven we can save lives…because imaging has gotten so good," says Dr. Christina Wolchok.
Wolchock says before a patient undergoes any treatment, a biopsy of their cancerous tissue goes to researchers in the lab to identity specifics.
"Every breast cancer has tumor markers on it and think of those tumor markers as little receptors on the tumor. There are three receptors – estrogen, progesterone and HER2. HER2 is a protein," says Wolchock.
Wolchock says that with Fischer, she was triple positive.
"So that means estrogen, progesterone and HER2 are all turned on," she says.
Wolchock and others say while HER2 cancer can be aggressive, it's also known to be most responsive to treatment because doctors can target the protein.
"The medical oncology team uses this tumor biology, the triple positive biology, to create an individualized care plan treatment care plan for her," says Wolchock.
Fischer says she underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Both Wolchock and Fischer are now promoting the same message – go get your mammogram.
Dr. Wolchok will be taking the stage at the American Cancer Society's walk "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" in Westport, CT on Oct 19. News 12 Connecticut is a media sponsor.
