‘Boy Meets World’ Danielle Fishel Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The actress, who rose to fame as Topanga on the Nineties sitcom, shared the news during Monday’s episode of “Pod Meets World.” During the hour-long podcast episode, Fishel said the cancer was discovered after a routine mammogram visit.

“It is very very very early; it’s technically stage zero to be specific. I was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS with micro invasion, and I’m going to be fine. I’m having surgery to remove it,” Fishel said during the hour-long podcast episode.

DCIS, or Ductal carcinoma in situ, is when the cells lining the milk ducts of the breast have become cancerous but have not spread into surrounding breast tissue, according to the American Cancer Society. After learning of the life-threatening condition, Fishel had planned to only tell her husband, Jensen Karp, and immediate family, but eventually decided to share the news publicly.

“I had always thought I would suffer in silence,” she said. “I would get the diagnosis. I would not tell anyone, I’d tell only my small small group, and then I would just suck it up and then when I’m on the other side of it. Then, I would tell people, ‘Here, I’ve gone through this journey, and here’s what I did.’”

Fishel credited staying on top of mammogram appointments with helping find the cancer in such an early stage. She said she made her appointment after receiving an automated text prompting her to schedule it and encouraged listeners to do the same. “Get in there,” she said. “If you have to find out that you have cancer, find out when it’s at Stage Zero.”

Fishel added she still has “big decisions” to make and plans to meet with oncologists, radiation specialists, and hormone specialists, which may affect the scheduling of future podcast episodes. “Pod Meets World” Co-hosts Rider Strong and Will Friedle were among the first people Fishel shared her diagnosis.

“It seems to be more prolific,” Friedle, her former Boy Meets World costar, said in response to her news. “It seems everywhere, for men too, prostate exams, colonoscopy. These are all things that are super important, so don’t put them off. We’re so glad you didn’t. You are going to be fine, and you might have some sucky days coming up, but we’re here for you.”