Danielle Fishel announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The 43-year-old former “Life and Me” actress shared the news on Monday’s episode of her “Pod Meets World” podcast, telling listeners that her former co-stars and current co-hosts Rider Strong and Will Friedle were among the first to know.
“I was recently diagnosed with DCIS, which stands for ductal carcinoma in situ, a form of breast cancer,” she said.
“It’s still very, very, very early. Technically, it’s stage zero. In fact, just because I like too much information all the time, I was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS with microinvasion.”
Fishel assured her fans that she was “going to be OK” and that she was planning to have surgery to remove the cancer.
“I will have follow-up treatment,” she explained. “I have had to make many decisions in the last few days.”
DCIS occurs when cells in a breast duct “develop changes in their DNA,” which, according to the Mayo Clinic, leads to an excess of cells: “In DCIS, the cancer cells are not yet able to break out of the breast duct and spread into the breast tissue.”
The former “Girl Meets World” actress decided to announce her diagnosis to encourage women to get screened in addition to their annual mammograms.
“The only reason I found the cancer when it was still stage zero is because the day I got the text saying it was my annual mammogram, I made the appointment,” she explained. “They found it so, so, so early that I’m going to be OK. I hope this encourages everyone to go. If you have to find out you have cancer, find out at stage zero if possible.”
The mother of two, best known for her role as Topanga Lawrence, said she is in the early stages of treatment and still has some “big decisions” to make after meeting with an oncologist and a radiologist.
Strong, 44, called Fishel’s diagnosis “unbelievable” because he knows so many people with the disease.
“My wife and I currently know four people – four friends – who have breast cancer,” Strong said, encouraging her fans to “get checked.”
Friedle added: “We’re so glad you didn’t put it off because you’re going to be OK. You might have a few bad days, but we’re here for you.”
