Beloved ‘90s TV star diagnosed with cancer at age 43
Former “Boy Meets World” star Danielle Fishel is battling cancer, the 43-year-old actress revealed on the “Pod Meets World” podcast she co-hosts with co-stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong.
“I would like to share something with our listeners,” Fishel said on Monday’s episode. “Something that Rider and Will were actually the first people I told the news to. I was recently diagnosed with DCIS, which stands for ductal carcinoma in situ, which is a form of breast cancer. It is very early. It’s technically stage zero.”
Fishel, best known for playing Topanga on the ‘90s TV show, said she’s having surgery to remove the cancer.
“And I’m gonna be fine,” she said. “I’m gonna be on some follow up treatment. I’ve had to make a lot of decisions over the last couple of days.”
Fishel played the love interest of Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) on all seven seasons of “Boy Meets World” and the sequel series, “Girl Meets World,” which starred Rowan Blanchard and Sabrina Carpenter. Friedle played Cory’s older brother Eric Matthews and Strong played Cory’s best friend, Shawn Hunter. “Pod Meets World” is a podcast where Fishel, Friedle and Strong rewatch episodes of ABC’s “TGIF” hit and share stories from behind the scenes.
E! News reports Fishel, who has two children with her husband Jensen Karp, said she initially planned to only tell her family but said she learned sharing experiences from the beginning “or in the very messy middle of a story” can help others learn about it, take precautions and share their own resources and experiences. She also hopes sharing her diagnosis will encourage others to get checked.
“The only reason I caught this cancer when it was still stage zero, is because the day I got my text message that my yearly mammogram had come up, I made the appointment,” Fishel said. “I hope that it will encourage anyone to get in there. If you have to find out that you have cancer, find out at stage zero.”
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