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Lucy Davis, best known for her role in The Office, has revealed she has incurable breast cancer, after finding a 'hard spot' on her breast.
The 53-year-old actor said she was diagnosed over a year ago and the disease has now spread to her bones including her spine, right hip and ribs. She added it was too late for chemotherapy.
But her first warning sign that something was wrong didn't match the 'classic' breast cancer symptoms.
'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,' she wrote on Instagram.
'So I guess I'm saying don't ignore anything - get everything checked out. I'm not scared of what comes next. I'm at peace with it. There’s a lot I have learned from [my cancer], and I’m grateful for that.'
It comes as cancer rates are surging in women under 50, with a 16 per cent rise since 2000. By 2050, breast cancer deaths are set to soar by more than 40 per cent.
While experts have not been able to identify a single smoking gun, there is concern modern lifestyles and obesity are fuelling the epidemic.
And although lumps are the most talked about symptom of breast cancer, experts say they are far from the only warning sign...
Lucy shared her diagnosis alongside an emotional video that showed her ringing the cancer treatment bell, and she shared in her post it's 'too late' for her to undergo chemotherapy
Lucy appeared alongside Ricky Gervais and Martin Freeman in The Office, which aired from 2001 to 2003
Lump in the breast
Most women are aware that lumps are a telltale sign of breast cancer. But identifying them can be hard, as natural breast tissue often feels lumpy.
Many of these masses will be benign and nothing to worry about, Cancer Research UK notes.
Some lumps are simply cysts buried underneath the skin. Others can be triggered through injuries and infections.
But while normal breast tissue can feel like a ridge close to the nipple, women should be alert to lumps that are painless, hard and irregularly-shaped and can be felt all the way round. Such lumps might not even be visible on the skin itself.
Change in breast shape or size
As well as lumps and swelling, breast cancer can cause changes in the appearance of your bosoms.
But breast size can fluctuate throughout a woman's life for a number of reasons – with their cycle and hormonal changes – and as such this is a warning sign that many women overlook.
The star shared a legnthy post revealing that due to the pain of her diagnosis, she now has to use a wheelchair and said 'she's at peace with whatever comes next'
For example, the disease might make one of your breasts look bigger. Or, according to Cancer Research UK, it may morph its shape slightly.
Such changes are a cause for concern when they are random and sudden, the charity suggests, especially when it is more noticeable in one breast.
'If you are pregnant and have any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor,' it adds. 'Your symptoms should be checked in the same way as in women who are not pregnant.'
Swelling or lump in the armpit
Armpit lumps or pain can be a sign of breast cancer.
You can’t usually feel your lymph glands – pea-sized lumps of tissue that contain white blood cells. They can be found under your chin and in the neck, as well as in your armpits and groin.
When you get infected, they can become swollen.
Yet lymph glands in the armpits which feel hard or are swollen may also be a signal that the cancer has spread, Cancer Research UK says. This is one of the first places that the disease spreads to.
You should arrange to see a doctor if the lump doesn’t disappear on its own within a couple of weeks, or if it appears to be getting worse.
Lucy is also the daughter of the famous British comedian Jasper Carrott, who hosted the ITV game show Golden Balls (pictured in 2009)
Nipple discharge or inversion
Discharge of clear or bloody fluid from one or both nipples could also be a key indicator of the disease.
'Lots of women have nipple discharge from time to time. It may just be normal for you,' the NHS advises.
However, 'nipple discharge in men is not normal', it adds.
The colour of your discharge is not a good way of telling if it's anything serious, as normal discharge can be lots of colours.
If discharge occurs either regularly, it only comes from one breast, it's bloodstained or smelly, you're not breastfeeding and it leaks out without any pressure on your breast or you're over the age of 50, it is always best to get it checked, experts say.
Similarly, nipple inversion that happens suddenly and does not revert can be a cause for concern.
Dimpling, a rash or redness on skin
When redness and swelling appear together, this can indicate a type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer.
Though rare, this disease is more common in women in their 20s and 30s – and can be confused with pregnancy symptoms.
A change in the colour of the breast is also a warning sign to get checked out, says Breast Cancer Now.
Dimpling skin is often compared to orange peel and can also be a telltale sign of the disease.
But it is important to note these skin changes can also be caused by other breast conditions.
Causes of breast cancer
There is no one cause of breast cancer, but risk factors include age, smoking, drinking alcohol, being overweight and breast density.
More recently doctors have also blamed modern lifestyles – whereby women are having children later – for the mysterious rise in young breast cancers.
Weight gain after 30 is also particularly risky for women, increasing the risk of a number of hormone-related cancers, including post-menopausal breast cancer
When and how should you check?
One in seven women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime – and as such checking your breasts should be part of your monthly routine, charity CoppaFeel says.
But there is hope, as the earlier the signs are detected, the more treatable it is.
You can check in the shower, using the flat pads of your middle three fingers.
Check the entire breast and armpit area, pressing down with light, medium and firm pressure, scanning for any lump, thickening, knots or any other breast changes.
Then look in the mirror for any visual lumps, skin texture and changes in nipple shape or abnormal discharge.
If you spot any changes you should get it checked out by your GP.
Women aged between 50 and 70 should also be attending routine breast cancer screening every three years.
There is no right or wrong way to check your breasts, as long as you know how your breasts usually look and feel, says the NHS.