(WJW) – Danielle Fishel got right to the point in the latest episode of her podcast “Pod Meets World” and revealed she has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
Danielle Fishel’s cancer diagnosis
The former “Boy Meets World” star opened the Aug. 19 podcast by saying, “So, I would like to share something with our listeners…”
The 43-year-old and mother of two went on to say she was recently diagnosed with DCIS, which stands for ductal carcinoma in situ, a form of breast cancer.
“It is very, very, very early, it’s technically stage zero,” said Fishel. “I’m going to be fine, I’m having surgery to remove it. I’m going to be on some follow-up treatment.”
What is DCIS?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, DCIS is cancer in your breasts’ milk ducts. The cancer isn’t aggressive and doesn’t typically spread. The most common treatments are lumpectomy and radiation.
Fishel said she decided to share her personal news despite her first instinct, which was to “clam up.”
CARSON, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 04: (L-R) Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel, and Will Friedle attend the 2022 iHeartRadio Wango Tango at Dignity Health Sports Park on June 04, 2022 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 12: Danielle Fishel attends the Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon’s “Emergency” at Directors Guild Of America on May 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic) 
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 05: Ben Savage (L) and Danielle Fishel speak onstage at the Boy Meets World 25th Anniversary Reunion panel during New York Comic Con 2018 at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for New York Comic Con) 
Danielle Fishel walks the picket line on Day 5 in support of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike at Disney Studio on July 17, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images) 
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) 
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 22: (L-R) Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel, and Rider Strong attend the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 22, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images)
She explained, that while a lot of people may like to wait to tell their experiences until they’ve come out on the other side and can then share the “pretty picture of it all,” she believes “the place you have the most to learn from is at the very beginning of a story or in the very messy middle of a story.”
She said that by sharing with others her diagnosis she has learned there is a “world of resources and experiences that can be shared by sharing it, and things that can be learned.”
‘Boy Meets World’ star encourages people to get mammograms
Fishel credits the early detection to annual mammogram appointments and encourages everyone, no matter how busy, to do the same.
“I hope that it will encourage anyone to get in there. If it’s time for your appointment, if you’ve never had an appointment before, get in there,” said Fishel.
You can listen to the full episode and learn more about her next steps, here.