Jenna Fischer, known for her role in The Office, recently shared her thoughts on not having a dramatic “shave-your-head moment” while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. In an interview with Hoda Kotb on the TODAY show, which aired on October 21, Fischer discussed her feelings about hair loss after receiving her diagnosis.
“When I was told I needed chemotherapy, my first thoughts were, ‘I don’t want to throw up, and I don’t want to lose my hair,'” Fischer recalled. Although she did not experience nausea, she did lose her hair. “It’s a big topic among women facing this. I did a lot of Googling about hair and looked at pictures to see what it might look like,” she added. She noted that her hair loss was not uniform, stating, “It doesn’t come out evenly.”
Earlier this month, the 50-year-old actress announced on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with Stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer in December 2023. After undergoing surgery, twelve rounds of chemotherapy, and radiation, she is now cancer-free.
During her interview, Fischer showcased her new short hairstyle. She shared her experience with hair loss, describing it as “coming out in fits and starts.” At one point, she had a large bald patch on one side of her head, which led her to create elaborate comb-overs to hide it.
Fischer explained that she chose not to shave her head completely. “I never had a big shave-your-head moment. I was unsure whether I should cut it or shave it,” she said. Despite the hair loss, she managed to keep some hair, which helped maintain the illusion of a fuller head of hair. She humorously compared her appearance to Friar Tuck, saying, “Nothing on top and then just a little something over here.”
In her October 8 Instagram post, Fischer revealed that she wore wigs and “hats with hair” while working on her podcast, Office Ladies, to keep her cancer treatment private. Her co-host and former The Office co-star, Angela Kinsey, also wore hats to support her.
Now, Fischer feels ready to “ditch the wigs” and embrace her shorter hair. As a mother of two, she reflected on her children’s reactions to her hair loss. “I worried about how they would handle it,” she said. “Looking back at pictures, I realize I didn’t look great. But my kids were okay with it and had a sense of humor about the situation.”
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