Hoda Kotb Moved to Tears by Jenna Fischer’s Breast Cancer Story on ‘Today’

Hoda Kotb was visibly moved during a recent segment on the Today show, where she interviewed Jenna Fischer, the actress known for her role on The Office. This emotional conversation came shortly after Fischer disclosed her battle with breast cancer, marking a poignant moment for both women.

In the episode aired on October 21, Jenna shared her journey as she talked about her diagnosis. She recalled reflecting on the support she received while recovering from her surgery, as she tuned into Kotb and her co-hosts from her bed. “After my surgery — I’m, you know, recovering — I watched the Today show. I got up out of bed, and I sat on the bench at the end of my bed with a cup of coffee and my big ole pillow, and I would watch you and Savannah and Jenna and all the fellows,” Fischer recounted.

During the heartfelt exchange, Hoda, who herself is a breast cancer survivor, could be seen wiping away tears as Jenna discussed her diagnosis. Fischer recounted how she initially felt unconcerned when she went for a breast ultrasound after her routine mammogram in October 2023, unaware that it would lead to the revealing of a cancer diagnosis just a few weeks later.

After learning about the need for further tests, including a biopsy, Jenna received the news of her Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer diagnosis in December 2023. In her heartfelt Instagram post marking National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she stated, “I had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor, and luckily my cancer was caught early and hadn’t spread into my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body. However, because of the aggressive nature of triple positive breast cancer, it still required chemotherapy and radiation.”

Following the broadcast, Jenna took to social media to express her gratitude towards Hoda and the Today show team for their support, emphasizing her hope that sharing her story could comfort others facing similar struggles. She concluded her message with a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection in survivorship, underscoring that, “99% of women who receive an early breast cancer diagnosis survive it. Early detection is why my treatment was so successful.”