THE Office star Lucy Davis today shocked fans after revealing she had been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer and “doesn’t know how long she has left”.
The actress, 53, shared the news in an emotional video on social media and said the cancer had spread to her bones.
The Office star Lucy Davis, 53, reveals she’s been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer Credit: Instagram/reallucydavis
In an emotional video on social media The Office star said the cancer had spread to her bones Credit: BBC
Writing on Instagram, she told her followers that she first discovered a “tiny, hard spot” in her breast a year ago and initially ignored it before seeing a doctor.
She said: “Hi friends:) I wanted to share something with you all that I’ve kept to myself for a while but for various reasons would like to share now.
“A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, which has metastasised to my bones.
“Specifically to my spine, right hip, and my ribs. The cancer is incurable, and too late for chemo.
“The initial lump that I felt, wasn’t a ‘lump’ as such; rather a kind of hard spot.
“Really tiny. I almost didn’t bother getting it checked. So I guess I’m saying don’t ignore anything – get everything checked out :)”
“As of now, I’m trying to live out whatever might be left of my life in as fun a way as I possibly can. I always like to find the teachable moments in anything negative that happens.
“And cancer has not disappointed in that regard. There’s a lot I have learned from it, and I’m grateful for that.”
“As some of you will know, the pain can really be something else. Standing and walking for too long a time can be hard, and I need to use a wheelchair sometimes.
“So if you see me toddling around in one, feel free to give me a push!”
She added: “I’m not scared of whatever comes next. I’m at peace with it.
“I’ll see my Gracie sooner than expected, and for me, leaving my physical body just means going home. Any and all grieving is for my family; it’s far harder for them than for me.”
The star is best known for her role as Dawn Tinsley in Ricky Gervais’ comedy The Office, and went on to star in the Marvel film Wonder Woman.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and while many do breast-checks and spot early symptoms, mammograms are life-saving.
Lucy has also been open about her experience with bulimia, which was at its worst when she was going through a divorce in 2011, but went on to take up weightlifting Credit: Instagram
Lucy appeared alongside Ricky Gervais and Martin Freeman in The Office
A mammogram is an image of the breasts obtained by mammography, a type of X-ray scan, and is used for the early detection of breast cancer.
Around two million women are each year within the NHS Breast Screening Programme.
Last year (2024/25), more than 19,000 cancer cases were found through screening alone.
It is currently for women aged between 50 and 70 every three years. Women should take up their invitation for a mammogram as soon as they receive it.
Although screening rates were higher this year (2024/25), around one million women failed to take their invite.
Around 59,000 women and 420 men are diagnosed with in the UK each year, and tragically, over 11,500 people die.
One in seven women get breast cancer in their lifetime.
In the US, around 322,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 60,730 cases of non-invasive in situ (early) breast cancer are diagnosed each year and 42,140 women die.
Signs you could miss
Diagnosis is key when it comes to catching it early on.
Most of us think of a lump when we imagine breast cancer.
But there are several other key signs you may not be aware of, such as discharge from the nipple.
- Skin changes: This might be puckering or dimpling, or a change in colour. Dry, flaking, or scaly skin around the nipple or areola can easily be mistaken for eczema or dry skin.
- Nipple changes: The nipple may also potentially change if you have breast cancer – look for discharge or crusting. Inversion – when the nipple flattens or turns in on itself – is a syptom of breast cancer.
- Pain: Pain in the breast or armpit is not usually a sign of breast cancer if it’s on its own. Look out for persistent pain that’s there all the time, says Breast Cancer Now.
- Lump: A lump of swelling anywhere in the chest and armpit area – not just the boobs – can be a sign of breast cancer.
- Redness: A change in the colour of the breast – the breast may look red or inflamed – is a potential symptom, particularly of inflammatory breast bancer (IBC), an aggressive form that rarely forms a distinct lump.
- Size change: Most women have irregularities between their two breasts, or see changes to them through a lifetime, such as during and after pregnancy. But it’s important to look out for a sudden swelling, change in size, or flattening of a breast.
The signs of advanced breast cancer
Secondary breast cancer is when cancer cells spread from the breast to other parts of the body. At this point, it is no longer curable.
The signs of this are:
- Feeling sick most of the time
- Severe or ongoing headaches
- A dry cough or feeling of breathlessness
- Any lumps or swellings under the arm, breastbone or collarbone
- Discomfort or swelling under the ribs or across the upper abdomen
- Loss of balance of any weakness or numbness of the limbs
- Pain in the bones which may worsen at night
- Feeling more tired than usual
- Altered vision or speech
- Unexpected weight loss, loss of appetite
How to check for breast cancer?
Checking the breasts regularly means you are more likely to spot something unusual. And if you do, it’s important to see your GP.
Even though it probably is not cancer, catching it early will improve the odds of survival.
There is a five-step self exam you can do at home to check for any changes.
- Step one: Begin by looking in a mirror, facing it with your arms on your hips and your shoulders straight. You should be looking for any dimpling, puckering, bulging skin, redness, soreness, a rash or changes in the nipple.
- Step two: Still looking in the mirror, raise both arms above your head and check for the same changes.
- Step three: With your arms still above your head, check for any fluid coming from the nipples. This can include milky, yellow or watery fluid, or blood.
- Step four: While lying down use your opposite hand to check each breast. Using a few fingers, keeping them flat and together, go in a small circular motion around your breasts. Make sure you feel the entire breast by going top to bottom in these small circles. It helps to develop a system or pattern to make sure every inch is covered. Use light pressure for the skin and tissue just beneath, medium pressure for the tissue in the middle of your breasts, and firm pressure to feel the tissue at the back, feeling down to your ribcage.
- Step five: Feel your breasts while either standing or sitting, using the same small circular motions.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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