Lucy Davis, who starred in the U.K. edition of "The Office," has been diagnosed with "incurable" breast cancer.
The 53-year-old actress, known for her role as Dawn Tinsley on the hit sitcom, announced the news in a lengthy Instagram post Tuesday, Aug. 11.
"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," she wrote, alongside a video of her reading a poem and ringing a bell in the hospital.
"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."
Davis explained that when she first found a lump, she "almost didn't
bother getting it checked," telling her followers, "don't ignore anything." Because the cancer is not treatable, she said she is "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," Davis continued, revealing standing and walking "can be hard," so she sometimes uses a wheelchair due to the pain.
"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," she wrote.
Davis added, "I'm not scared of whatever comes next. I'm at peace with it. I'll see my [late dog] 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."
She also noted her intentions to continue her advocacy work for animal rights, which she said is "so important to me," as well as acting, "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," Davis concluded.
Davis is the daughter of British comedian Jasper Carrot and became a beloved character on "The Office" during its two-season run from 2001 until 2003. Her character – a witty receptionist involved in a friends-to-lovers arc with Martin Freeman's Tim – was the inspiration for Jenna Fischer's Pam Beesly in the U.S. version, which premiered in 2005.
In addition to "The Office," Davis has taken on roles in the 2004 horror-comedy film "Shaun of the Dead," 2017's "Wonder Woman" and Netflix's "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" from 2018 to 2020.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Office' star Lucy Davis reveals 'incurable' cancer diagnosis
