‘Enjoying time I have left’- Lucy Davis diagnosed with terminal
The Office, Death In Paradise and Wonder Woman star Lucy Davis has revealed she has been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, sadly stating she “doesn’t know how long she has left.” The 53-year-old, who is the daughter of comedian Jasper Carrott, shared the news in an Instagram post on Tuesday, explaining she discovered a “tiny, hard spot” in her breast a year ago. She said she had nearly ignored it before she went to see a doctor, and sadly she was then told the disease was incurable. Despite this, she insisted she is “at peace with whatever comes next.”
In a deeply moving post, she shared a clip of her ringing the bell at the end of her treatment. The lengthy accompanying caption read: “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.
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Lucy Davis first found fame for her role in beloved sitcom The Office (Image: BBC)
“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,” she advised.
She continued: “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!) The thing that has been most vital to me is humour.
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“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.
The Office star Lucy Davis has been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer (Image: Getty)
“I’m not scared of whatever comes next. I’m at peace with it. I’ll see my Gracie sooner than expected,” she said, referring to her beloved dog who died in August 2024. “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.”
Displaying an upbeat attitude, she vowed to keep busy, adding: “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. 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.”
Lucy first found fame playing Dawn Tinsley in Ricky Gervais’ BBC comedy The Office, and she went on to appear in The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina as one of the lead’s aunts Hilda Spellman. She also had a key role as Etta Candy in the 2017 blockbuster superhero movie Wonder Woman. She has also featured in Death In Paradise and Ugly Betty.
The star has had many health struggles throughout her life. She is diabetic and in 1997 she had a kidney transplant, using an organ donated by her mother, Hazel. In 2005, she required hospital treatment for kidney failure, but went on to make a full recovery. She previously opened up about her experience with bulimia, which she said was at its worst when she was going through a divorce in 2011.
