“Boy Meets World” actress Danielle Fishel revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 43.
The famous actress spoke candidly about her devastating health update during Monday’s episode of her podcast, “Pod Meets World,” which she hosts alongside her former co-stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong. “I was recently diagnosed with DCIS, which stands for ductal carcinoma in situ, which is a form of breast cancer,” she said.
Fishel went on to assure fans that “it is very, very, very early,” and explained her current health condition by saying, “It’s technically stage zero.” However, she admitted she has some very big health decisions to make fairly immediately.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Danielle Fishel at the 7th Annual American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on September 16, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Tasia Wells/Getty Images)
“To be specific, I was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS with micro-invasion. And I’m going to be fine. I’m having surgery to remove it. I’m going to be on some follow-up treatment. I’ve had to make a lot of decisions over the last couple of days,” she said.
The famous actress explained that she had originally decided not to share her diagnosis publicly, but then re-evaluated that thought and felt it would be better to be open about her battle against cancer.
“For some reason, I had always thought I would suffer in silence. I would get the diagnosis. I would not tell anyone. I would only tell my small, small group. And then I would just suck it up. And then when I’m on the other side of it, then I would tell people,” she said.
“And as I’ve gotten older, I have really tried to learn from the experiences of others,” she said.
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 28: Actress Danielle Fishel visits Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” at Universal Studios Hollywood on January 28, 2020 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
Fishel said she felt better after discussing her health with her husband and family.
“And then 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,” she said.
“The only reason I caught this cancer when it is still stage zero is because the day I got my text message that my yearly mammogram had come up, I made the appointment. And the fact that I am good about going to my doctor’s appointments, when truthfully, it would be so much easier with as busy as I am, to say, ‘I don’t have time for that,'” she said.
The actress shared important advice with her fans.
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“And so I want to share this because I hope that it will encourage anyone to get in there,” she said. (RELATED: ‘Undoubtedly The Scariest Week Of My Life’: Rachel Zegler Discusses Her Breast Cancer Scare)
“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.”
The star said there’s a long way to go. “I still have doctors I need to meet with, oncologists, radiation specialists, hormone therapists, all kinds of stuff that I have still in front of me to decide,” she said.
