Lucy Davis, best known for her role in The Office, has publicly revealed that she has been diagnosed with incurable stage 4 breast cancer. The 53-year-old actress shared the news on Instagram, stating that she is 'trying to live out whatever might be left of my life'.
Diagnosis and Details
In a statement, Davis explained that she was diagnosed a year and a half ago with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, which has metastasized to her bones, specifically her spine, right hip, and ribs. She noted that the cancer is incurable and that it is 'too late for chemo'.
Davis described the initial detection: '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.'
Living with Cancer
The actress emphasized the importance of humour in coping with her illness. She said, 'The thing that has been most vital to me is humour. I asked my friends and family to make fun of me as much as possible (which they’re really good at?), and most importantly of all to not treat me like a sick person. There’s nothing that will make you feel more unwell than being treated as if you’re unwell.'
Davis also addressed the physical challenges, noting that standing and walking for too long can be difficult, and she sometimes uses a wheelchair. 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.'
Continuing Work and Advocacy
Despite her diagnosis, Davis plans to continue her work for animal rights and acting. She said, 'I’m still going to keep up all my work for animal rights. It’s so important to me? And I still would like to keep working. I’m perfectly able to do so, and acting is one of the biggest joys in my life.'
She also expressed support for others facing similar journeys: 'For those of you on a similar journey to mine, I do wish you well. Cancer asks a lot from us, physically and mentally. And we all get to do it however we choose. Much love to you all.'
Breast Cancer Symptoms
The NHS advises that the first symptom of breast cancer most women notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast. Other symptoms include a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts, discharge of fluid from either nipple, a lump or swelling in either armpit, changes in the look or feel of the skin (such as puckering or dimpling, a rash or redness), a rash (like eczema), crusting, scaly or itchy skin or redness on or around the nipple, and a change in the appearance of the nipple, such as becoming sunken into the breast.
