Danielle Fishel Says a Routine Mammogram Saved Her Life After Experiencing ‘No Symptoms’ of Cancer (Exclusive)

Danielle Fishel didn’t encounter any warning signs before her cancer diagnosis – but one routine appointment changed everything. Now, the actress is opening up about how a mammogram helped catch her stage 0 breast cancer early and why she hopes other women won’t put off their screenings.

“The crazy thing is I had absolutely no symptoms. I had no inkling. I didn’t find anything. My stage 0 cancer was found on a routine mammogram,” Fishel exclusively told First for Women while promoting her partnership with Lysol’s Lavender & Cotton Blossom scented products.

That fact alone is a message the former Boy Meets World star, 44, wants women to understand.

“If you wait for a symptom to show up, it could be a significantly later stage,” she explains.

Fishel adds the reason her cancer, known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), was caught at stage 0 was because she stayed on top of her routine mammograms.

“I had a mammogram the year before that was clean, and when I got the reminder to book my next one, I did it right away,” she says. “It would have been so easy to push it off because we’re all so busy, and it was summer and we had all these activities planned. It was the least fun thing to do, but I just went and got it done.”

Fishel, who thrilled fans with her run on season 34 of Dancing with The Stars, explains that her mammogram discovered “about one millimeter of cancer.”

“I wouldn’t have felt it, and I wouldn’t have had symptoms,” Fishel admits. “I’m so grateful I caught it when I did, because even with stage zero, there is no easy cancer. I still had two lumpectomies, 20 days of radiation, and I have to take medication every day for the next five years.”

However, while she recognizes getting a mammogram isn’t enjoyable, Fishel has a message for those who might be procrastinating on scheduling their checkup.

“The longer you put off screenings, the less you know what could be going on. The earlier you find something, the better your outcomes are, especially with how much cancer treatment has advanced,” the Vampirina: Teenage Vampire director points out. “I know a lot of people delay screenings because they’re afraid of the results, but avoiding it doesn’t change anything. You just have to go and get it done.”

While Fishel has been focused on her health, she’s also been staying busy professionally. The actress recently hit the road for the Dancing with the Stars tour – an experience she says came with its own unexpected challenges.

“I was living on a tour bus with nine other people, which was a totally different experience,” she says.

Fishel partnered with Lysol during the tour and admitted having familiar products on hand helped her feel more comfortable in the shared space.

“[Daniella Karagach] and I, who both like everything to be clean and organized, were the two people constantly bringing out our lavender and cotton blossom scented Lysol products, cleaning up the kitchen. The Lavender and Cotton Blossom scented products provide Lysol’s trusted disinfection, killing 99.9% of germs*, while leaving behind a refreshing lavender fragrance that I love,” she adds. “Dani would make breakfast every morning. I’d do a nice wipe down so nothing was sticky and that our bathroom .”