Danielle Fishel, renowned for her role as Topanga Lawrence on the popular 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World, has publicly shared her recent breast cancer diagnosis, a decision inspired by her desire to learn from the experiences of others.
In a heartfelt announcement on the latest episode of her podcast Pod Meets World, which she cohosts with former costars Will Friedle and Rider Strong, Fishel, 43, disclosed her diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This early-stage breast cancer is categorized as stage zero.
“I was recently diagnosed with DCIS, which is a form of breast cancer,” Fishel revealed at the podcast’s outset. “It is very, very early. It’s technically stage zero.”
Fishel, who rose to fame as a teenager on the beloved show, shared that her diagnosis includes high-grade DCIS with micro-invasion. According to Breastcancer.org, DCIS is considered breast cancer at its most initial stage. While not immediately life-threatening, DCIS increases the risk of developing invasive breast cancer in the future. It represents approximately 20% to 25% of new breast cancer cases in the U.S.
Despite the gravity of her condition, Fishel maintained a positive outlook. “I’m going to be fine. I’m having surgery to remove it and will be undergoing follow-up treatment,” she said. She noted the numerous decisions she has had to make recently and emphasized her proactive approach to her health.
Initially, Fishel had intended to keep her diagnosis private. However, inspired by author Glennon Doyle’s perspective that the most valuable lessons are often found at the beginning or in the messy middle of a story, Fishel chose to share her journey publicly.
She attributed her early detection to swift action following a routine mammogram. “The only reason I caught this cancer at stage zero is because I promptly made an appointment after receiving the text message about my yearly mammogram,” Fishel explained.
In addition to her iconic role in Boy Meets World, Fishel reprised her character in the spinoff series Girl Meets World from 2014 to 2017. She is married to producer Jensen Karp and is the mother of two children.