Danielle Fishel exclusively told Morning Honey how she's doing after her breast cancer surgery.
Exclusive: Danielle Fishel Is Almost 'Close to a 100 Percent' After Breast Cancer Surgery: 'I'm Feeling Really Good!'
Oct. 17 2024, Published 9:10 a.m. ET
Danielle Fishel bravely shared with the world in August that she discovered she has breast cancer. After finding out the shocking news during one of her check-ups, she is slowly but surely getting back into her routine.
“I’m almost close to a 100 percent. The lymph node removal was the hardest part of the surgery. The incision is in an uncomfortable place. I’m still getting used to that, but I’m generally feeling good,” the actress, 43, who has teamed up with Aflac to spread the word about the life-saving effects of preventive care and remind her fellow Millennials to schedule that wellness appointment they’ve been putting off, exclusively tells Morning Honey during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Danielle Fishel shares two kids with husband Jensen Karp.
“I have not started my hormone therapy yet. I will have to see how I feel after starting that,” she continues. “I’ve read mixed reviews around the side effects of that, but you do what you have to do to take care of yourself. I’m willing to do it, but I’m feeling really good now!”
After the Boy Meets World star was diagnosed with “stage-zero” breast cancer following her annual mammogram, which she scheduled as soon as she got the calendar alert on her phone, she is urging everyone to be proactive when it comes to their health.
According to Aflac’s 2024 Wellness Matters Survey, over 70 percent of Millennials admit they sometimes or always put off getting a health checkup or screening beyond the recommended time frame.
“When I found out that 60 percent of Americans admit to putting off their regular health screenings, I was like, ‘Wow.’ It would have been so much easier for me to skip this year’s mammogram. I was in a very, very, very busy stage of my life. I have a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old, I have several jobs, and my mammogram was normal last year,” Fishel, who is married to Jensen Karp, explains. “I thought I was fine, but I still made the appointment. I made that appointment that day, and I’m so glad I did because in this yearly routine mammogram, I found out that I had two millimeters of cancer. Who knows what it would have looked like a year from now and that was really shocking to me.”
Danielle Fishel shared her breast cancer diagnosis in August.
Instead of staying quiet, the mom-of-two, who became famous for playing Topanga on Boy Meets World, wanted to use her platform for good. “I’m so grateful that I kept my yearly appointment, and I want that for all of you as well. That’s why Aflac has been the best partner for this because they conduct these wellness surveys every year. They want to know what Americans are thinking about their healthcare and their health — and 51 percent of people find out they have cancer during routine screenings. They’re just like me — feeling healthy, looking healthy, go in for a routine screening and find out they have cancer. They’re super important, and if I can help spread that word, and it can make a difference in even one person’s life, it makes me feel like it’s worth it having gone through it as well,” she shares.
The star now wants to help others stay on top of their health appointments!
After the news went viral, Fishel was met with “overwhelmingly positive and very beautiful” notes. “People wrote me very personal letters and emails through the podcast telling me of their own experiences and their own journeys,” she reveals. “The amount of women who came up to me when they saw me on the street and said, ‘I just want you to know I made my appointment because of you,’ or ‘I just want you to know I encouraged my mom to make her appointment because of you.’ I get emotional thinking about it because I felt very loved.”
“While I say no one wants to be in the cancer club, if you do ever find yourself here, it is a community of the most warm, generous, loving, helpful and considerate people,” she continues. “People sent me gift baskets of things they knew I was going to want. Here are some socks you’ll need, here’s a link to buy a supportive bra for after you have surgery, here’s some anti-nausea meds. There’s a lot of darkness in the world, but every now and then we get these insanely beautiful reminders of the true kindness that exists — and this was one of those experiences for me.”
Danielle Fishel said her 'Boy Meets World' character, Topanga, would want to help others.
Similar to Fishel’s character Topanga, she only wants the best for everyone, which is why she’s all about following up with her loved ones to make sure they’re going to their appointments. “If you don’t have a family member gently nudging you toward your health exams, consider me that friend or family member who is just saying, ‘Please do it for me.’ Topanga would have been that person, honestly. I have no problem stepping into that role!” the podcast host, who credits her “incredible” husband and mom for rallying around her, quips. “It’s exactly what she would have done. I always describe her as being right on the other side of my heart, so I am just stepping into her shoes and being the Topanga to remind you to get your health screenings.”
Ultimately, Fishel wants everyone to “take their health seriously.”
“Put yourself and your screenings first and say, ‘If I am not healthy and well, I cannot be there for anybody else,’” she says. “I want to be there for every experience with my kids, but I understand I might have to miss something due to surgery or an exam. I think I’m being a role model and showing that taking care of yourself is a good way to live your life. By modeling it, hopefully other people will do it as well, especially my children.”