Jenna Fischer Wants Companies to Give Employees Time Off to Get Cancer Screenings: 'It Can Save Lives'

Jenna Fischer is ready to get to work — encouraging people to get their cancer screenings, and even more than that, encouraging their workplaces to support them in doing so.

The Office actress is teaming up with Working with Cancer Pledge's Screening Time Off campaign to raise employers' awareness so that they will "encourage their employees to take the time to get necessary cancer screenings,” according to a press release.

Fischer, 50, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year during a routine mammogram and ultrasound that she had been delaying, she tells PEOPLE in an email interview.

“It's hard to prioritize the time for cancer screenings and doctor's appointments when you are juggling work and kids and family stuff,” said Fischer, who has two children, Weston, 13, and Harper, 10, with her husband Lee Kirk “Luckily, I went when I did, my cancer was found early, and it was treatable. I’m so glad I didn’t wait."

Her takeaway from her own health experience?

“Don’t let work – or your kids, or anything else – get in the way of taking care of yourself,” the actress tells PEOPLE. “Take a minute right now to check which screenings you need and book them.”

Though Fischer says she's grateful for her own job's flexibility to allow her time to get necessary screenings, she knows not everyone has that luxury; her sister is a teacher, she says, and has to schedule her appointments far in advance because she has a limited amount of personal and sick days. Knowing those obstacles can exist for many employees is what made her excited to be the face of the Screening Time Off campaign.

“I love that this campaign focuses on the ways that employers can help,” Fischer tells PEOPLE. “If you are an employer, you have the potential to save lives by encouraging employees to take time off for cancer screenings. Companies can ensure early detection doesn’t take a back seat to work.”

The star first shared news of her diagnosis in an Oct. 8 Instagram post in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, saying she had undergone 12 rounds of chemo beginning in February and three weeks of radiation beginning in June. Though she is still receiving infusions, she is currently cancer free — a milestone she celebrates in her funny PSA for Screening Time Off (above).

For those who find themselves going through cancer treatments, Fischer says finding “a sense of normalcy and routine” helped her mental health despite it being a tremendous adjustment.

“In many cases, you can keep working during cancer treatment,” Fischer, who records the Office Ladies podcast with friend Angela Kinsey, tells PEOPLE. “Workplace support changes health outcomes: Employers, bosses and coworkers alike can play an active role in their colleague’s recovery by advocating for them to take the time and space they need for treatment.”

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There are multiple ways to offer support to friends or colleagues undergoing chemotherapy treatments, Fischer said.

“I loved how the people in my community each had a different way of supporting me,” Fischer recalled of own experience. “Like, 'What day is best for me to drop off some soup?' or 'What day can I grab your kids from school so you can get some extra rest?' or 'Can I check in with you on Tuesday for a walk around the block if you are up for it?' Stuff like that."

And for cancer patients undergoing treatment while still at work, they may have “good days and crash days,” Fischer said; it meant a lot to her that her very supportive workplace would work with her to plan around that timing. "Scheduling important work around the crash days is really helpful because it meant I could be more reliable, which feels good," she said.

But her single most important takeaway from her own experience and partnering with the campaign is this: “I want to say to everyone, ‘If you’ve been waiting for a sign to make your appointment, this is it!’”

Read the original article on People