In late July, while directing five episodes of Lopez vs. Lopez, Danielle Fishel received a call she never expected. Following a routine mammogram, the 43-year-old actress—best known for her iconic role as Topanga Lawrence on Boy Meets World—was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with microinvasion, an early stage of breast cancer.
The diagnosis came as a shock—especially since only a year earlier, Fishel’s mammogram results had been clear.
“No one ever wants to get that phone call,” she told Flow Space in an exclusive interview. “I remember my doctor calling me, and I knew, ‘Okay, here are the results I’ve been waiting for.’ I had already thought about it a million times. If it’s benign, she’s going to say it right away. But if not, she’ll say something else. And sure enough, she asked, ‘Are you alone?’ That’s when I knew.”
Fishel’s doctor explained that the cancer was high grade but detected very early—at stage zero. Despite her initial confusion over the medical terms, Fishel quickly realized how fortunate she was.
“It’s one of the reasons why getting regular screenings is so important,” she says. “Had I waited, who knows what it would have been.”
Each year, approximately 60,000 women are diagnosed with DCIS, with around 20% of all new breast cancer diagnoses in the U.S being DCIS. This early-stage, non-invasive form of breast cancer is often found during routine mammograms, making regular screenings critical for early detection and treatment. For Fishel, the diagnosis was a wake-up call, especially after learning how many women delay routine screenings.
After reading Aflac’s Wellness Matters Survey, which revealed that 65% of millennial women admit to postponing routine screenings, Fishel was inspired to partner with the insurance company. Her mission: to encourage people to prioritize their health by scheduling annual screenings on time.
“That hit home. If you grew up watching me on TV in the ’90s, you’re probably around my age. And if I need to stay on top of these screenings, you do too,” Fishel says.
Busy directing, raising two young children, and navigating everyday life, Fishel admits that it would have been easy to skip her mammogram. “I have a five-year-old and a three-year-old. I was directing a lot. But I went in for my screening, and thank God I did—last year, no cancer. This year, two millimeters of cancer. It’s terrifying to think what could have happened if I had put it off.”
After consulting with several doctors, Fishel decided on a lumpectomy followed by radiation and hormone therapy, opting not to pursue a double mastectomy after genetic testing revealed she wasn’t predisposed to cancer.
“I asked every doctor the same question: ‘What would you recommend if I were your daughter or wife?’ All of them suggested the standard of care—lumpectomy, radiation, and hormone therapy. A double mastectomy comes with a longer recovery time and more side effects, and I wanted to get back to my normal life as quickly as possible.”
Fishel underwent surgery in August, followed by a margin revision in September. Thankfully, her pathology results came back clear, and she’s now focused on deciding whether to undergo additional treatment, like radiation. Reflecting on her journey, Fishel admits that accepting the changes to her body is a work in progress.
“I’ve always been athletic and healthy, but now I have two incision scars and a dent in my breast. It will take time to adjust, and I’m trying not to brush it off with toxic positivity. There is some sadness about what cancer has brought into my life.”
One message Fishel wants to share, particularly during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is the importance of encouraging loved ones to stay on top of their health. According to the Aflac Wellness Survey, three out of four people say they appreciate when a friend or family member reminds them to get their screenings.
“It makes a difference,” Fishel says. “Staying on top of it may have saved my life.”