‘Boy Meets World’ Star Danielle Fishel Reveals Cancer Diagnosis
on Aug 19, 2024
Danielle Fishel, known for her role as Topanga in the ’90s hit sitcom Boy Meets World, has revealed her diagnosis of breast cancer.
Danielle Fishel On Boy Meets World
In 1993, at the age of 12, Fishel started her famous role as Topanga Lawrence-Matthews on the ABC series Boy Meets World. Initially intended as a minor character, Topanga evolved into a recurring role. Topanga was the love interest of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage. The two characters famously got engaged at their high school graduation at the age of 18.
In 2014, Fishel returned to her role as Topanga in the Boy Meets World spin-off, Girl Meets World, which premiered on the Disney Channel on June 27, 2014.
Danielle Fishel’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis
During the latest episode of her podcast, Pod Meets World, the 43-year-old actress opened up about her recent health journey. Fishel revealed that she has been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early form of breast cancer.
Fishel explained to her listeners, “It is very, very, very early. It’s technically stage zero…I’m going to be fine. I’m having surgery to remove it.”
In addition to surgery, Fishel mentioned that she will undergo some follow-up treatments. She shared that the “only reason” they caught the cancer early was because of a text message.
“The day I got my text message that my yearly mammogram had come up, I made the appointment.”
According to breastcancer.org, DCIS, also known as stage 0 breast cancer, is “non-invasive and not life-threatening.” While Fishel’s diagnosis represents the early stage of breast cancer, it also increases her risk of developing invasive breast cancer in the future.
Going Public With Her Diagnosis
Fishel said that her initial instinct was to keep her diagnosis private, but later decided to share the news with others.
“For some reason, I had always thought [if I were diagnosed with cancer] I would suffer in silence. I would get the diagnosis, I would not tell anyone…But the place you have the most to learn from is that at the very beginning of a story or in the very messy middle of a story.”
Fishel told fans that her podcasting schedule will be put on “hold” as she navigates her treatment. She wants to share her diagnosis and encourage others to get regular check-ups to help more people find cancer early.
“The fact that I am good about going to my doctor’s appointments when, truthfully, it would be so much easier with as busy as I am…it would be so easy to say, ‘I don’t have time for that. I went to my mammogram last year, I was fine…’ And I didn’t…and they found it so early that I’m going to be fine.”
Her podcast co-hosts, Rider Strong and Will Friedle, who also appeared in Boy Meets World, told Fishel:
“We love you, and you know that we’ve got you. Whatever you need, we’re here.”
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We are sending our prayers out to Danielle Fishel during this time.
