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 2003Change in breast shape or size As well as lumps and swelling, breast cancer can cause changes in the appearance of your breasts.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 breasts look bigger. Or, according to Cancer Research UK, it may change 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. The charity also warns that, while breast changes are common during pregnancy, expectant mother should still get checked as a precaution.'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 armpitArmpit lumps or pain can be a sign of breast cancer. This symptom can occur when the cancer spreads into the 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. Healthy patients usually can't feel their lymph glands.However, when infected with a virus or bug, the glands can become swollen.Cancer is another cause of swollen lymph glands. According to Cancer Research Uk, hard or swollen lumps in the armpits can be a sign of the disease, because this is one of the first places breast cancer spreads. Experts say that patients should 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 an 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. Around 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year.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.But 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 - where it appears to point inward - that happens suddenly and does not revert can be a cause for concern. A rash or redness on skinWhen 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. Experts say that another symptom to watch out for is dimpling of the breast tissue, which often likened to a small indentation or puckering of the skin. Some compare it to the texture of an orange peel. But it is important to note these skin changes can also be caused by other breast conditions.Not all lumps are easy to catchMost 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.