Christina Applegate’s Salty Reaction to Jenna Fischer’s Cancer Diagnosis
Jenna Fischer made a phone call to a close celebrity friend after finding out she had breast cancer.
Fischer, who starred in “The Office,” called Christina Applegate and said the “Dead to Me” star’s reaction was “salty.”
“I called her, and she answered the phone, and she said, ‘Which one is it?’ And I said, ‘It’s breast cancer.’ And she said, ‘I effing knew it,'” Fischer recalled during an appearance on the “TODAY” show. “She’s salty. Salty language that one. I love her for it.”
Jenna Fischer’s Brave Announcement
Fischer first shared her cancer journey on Instagram, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She candidly expressed her disbelief about making such an announcement. “I never thought I’d be making an announcement like this but here we are,” she wrote. “Last December, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer. After completing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, I am now cancer-free.”
She added a personal touch by sharing a photo capturing her joy despite the difficulties. “I wanted a photo of myself in my patchy pixie looking happy and healthy to go along with this news. A big thank you to Angela Kinsey’s husband Josh Snyder for taking this photo. It’s just one example of the care they showed me during this journey.”
Facing the Challenge: Fischer’s Cancer Journey
Fischer faced an initial conundrum during her health journey. Her critical first step was a mammogram in October 2023, where the results were inconclusive. Upon her doctor’s advice, a breast ultrasound followed, and that’s where a troubling spot was found on her left breast. After a tissue biopsy confirmed her situation, she received the life-altering news on December 1, 2023.
With steadfast resolution, she reflected on her diagnosis. “Triple positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer, but it is also highly responsive to treatment,” she explained. After undergoing a successful lumpectomy to remove the tumor in January, she expressed her gratitude. “Luckily my cancer was caught early, but due to the aggressive nature of triple-positive cancer, treatment was necessary to prevent a recurrence.” Fischer’s process illustrates the resilience that is often needed when facing adversity.
Her journey emphasized the importance of community support. “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. It started with a team of doctors and nurses. All of them angels,” she shared, highlighting the human connections that nurture hope.
Communicating Truth to Family
After receiving her diagnosis, Fischer engaged in an honest conversation with her children. “They’re 10 and they’re 13, and they were going to be living in the house while I went through this,” Jenna reflected on the importance of transparency. “They’re going to see it. The biggest thing that I wanted them to know was that any ways that I seemed sick during this process were side effects of treatments, not cancer making me sick.”
“That distinction, I think, really put them at ease,” she added. Their strength, amidst such a profound circumstance, became a source of solace for Fischer as they navigated the trials together.
A random but inspiring fact: Did you know that Breast Cancer Awareness Month was first established in 1985? This initiative continues to raise awareness and promote early detection, perhaps emphasizing how vital community, information, and individual stories intertwine in the fight against cancer.
