// BBC HEALTH NEWS — SALUTE
Know how to check your breasts for cancer. Actor Lucy Davis found a 'hard spot', not a lump
Left to right: Ricky Gervais as David Brent, Lucy Davis as Dawn and Martin Freeman as Tim in The Office
Signs of breast cancer are not always a lump in the traditional sense, so what should you look for?
Actress Lucy Davis, who played Dawn Tinsley in the original UK version of the popular TV series The Office, has revealed she has incurable breast cancer.
On Instagram, external, the 53-year-old said it had spread to her bones and it was too late for chemo.
She added: "The initial lump that I felt, wasn't a 'lump' as such; rather a kind of hard spot. Really tiny."
The NHS says to check your breasts, external or chest about once a month.
That helps you learn what looks and feels normal for you, making it easier to notice any abnormal changes.
Breasts can naturally look and feel a bit different at different phases of your menstrual cycle, and change a bit as you age.
a change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling (it may look like orange peel) or redness, which may be harder to see on black or brown skin
a change in size or shape of one or both breasts, or either side of your chest – it's common for breasts to be different sizes, but check for any changes that are not normal for you