'I’m not scared of whatever comes next'

The Office star Lucy Davis has revealed she has incurable breast cancer but said she intended to ‘live out whatever might be left of my life in as fun a way as I possibly can’.

The 53-year-old, who played Dawn Tinsley in the comedy, broke the news that she had stage four breast cancer, diagnosed 18 months ago, via a social media post yesterday.

She said: ‘A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, which has metastasized 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!).

‘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.

‘I’m not scared of whatever comes next. I’m at peace with it. I’ll see my Gracie [her dog who died in 2024] 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.

‘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.’ 

The post was accompanied by a video of her reading a poem while ringing a bell in hospital, which usually denotes the end of cancer treatment.

Davis is the daughter of the comedian Jasper Carrott, 81, and was married to the Welsh actor Owain Yeoman from 2006 to 2011.

Her screen credits also include playing Hilda Spellman in the Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Dianne in the zom-com Shaun of the Dead and Etta Candy in Wonder Woman.

In 1997, she underwent a kidney transplantation after being diagnosed with kidney failure during a medical examination. Her mother Hazel donated the organ.

Published: 12 Aug 2026