Lucy Davis' Zipline Adventure
- Actress and comedian Lucy Davis, 53, is living with stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to her bones, but she’s determined to keep finding joy and adventure. She recently went ziplining despite significant pain and difficulty walking, taking pain medication beforehand.
- What stood out most was her determination to push herself — the hike to the zipline took 1 hour and 15 minutes, much longer than expected.
- Doctors explain that stage 4 (metastatic) breast cancer spreads beyond the breast to organs like the liver, lungs, bones, or brain, making treatment highly individualized and often involving major decisions such as mastectomy and reconstruction.
- It’s important to remember that survivorship is not a final destination but an ongoing journey. It begins at the moment of diagnosis and continues throughout a person’s life.
- Check out SurvivorNet’s doctor‑supported platform, “My Health Questions,” an AI-powered tool for clarity and support.
The 53-year-old actress and comedian, who opened up on social media back in August about her stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, revealing she’d been living with it for about a year and a half, recently took to Instagram to share a zipline adventure she’d enjoyed at Skull Canyon Ziplines Adventure Park in California’s Temescal Valley.
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“But in previous zip lines, I’ve always been driven up to the first line, and the walking is in between the lines. But no. This was a legit hike up to the first zip. It took me one hour and 15 minutes,” she explained further.
“I was so grateful for the support of the guides and my friend @jharris1231 who helped me up, and the other people on the hike that never judged me or made me feel stupid.”
Davis wrapped up the post with even more gratitude, giving a special shoutout to her Epsom salts for helping her recover afterward.
WATCH: Women Creating a Great Life After Breast Cancer
Fans were impressed by Davis’ willingness to take on something so adventurous, with one commenting: “That is something to be proud of. I don’t think I’d make it to the zipline, especially not if a fair bit of the hike is like the second picture. I hope you weren’t too sore afterwards.”
Davis replied simply, “Pain meds and Epsom salts.”
Another fan wrote, “You marvelous woman! Great job, Lucy!!! Hope it was so much fun! I’m not sure I’d be as brave as you to go down a zip line like that…,” to which Davis responsed, “That was the easy bit – it was having to walk past bee hives that scared me the most!”
A third commented, “Woweee! What an exhilarating experience Lucy! So impressed you did this. I wonder if its a bit like a very scary rollercoaster that makes you want to do it all over again once you get off? Loads of love.”
“My gosh Lucy, so much courage! You are such an inspiration!” wrote a fourth fan.
In a lighter moment, Davis also shared a video from her first — and last — skateboarding lesson, joking that even though it happened years ago, it still cracks her up realizing she has “no sporting ability whatsoever.”
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Lucy Davis’ Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Back on August 11, Davis shared a video clip of her ringing a bell to mark the completion of her cancer treatment.
Davis captioned the post, “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. 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.”
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Davis explained further, “The thing that has been most vital to me is humor. 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 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.”
Davis has also spoken more broadly about her determination to live life to the fullest, reflecting on the lessons cancer has taught her alongside the physical toll it’s taken — including significant pain and difficulty standing or walking for long stretches.
“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 added.
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Positive Psychology: How It Can Help Cancer Survivors
Positive psychology is an approach to mental wellbeing that focuses more on a person’s strengths and how they can help themselves rather than just trying to curb individual symptoms and/or diagnose a disorder.
“It is a fundamentally sort of different way of thinking about patients, thinking about their experience,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet. “It’s not just focusing on what’s the matter. It’s also asking them, what matters to you?”
This approach can be massively beneficial to people who are dealing with an illness like cancer, because it focuses on finding those great parts of life. Dr. Boardman noted that positive psychology is a reimagined approach to dealing with mental struggles.
“Making people feel less bad is not the same as making them feel good,” she said, referring to how this new approach encourages people to try to find happiness rather than just try to stop sadness.
“Positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions,” Dr. Boardman said.
“Sometimes you can treat a patient and get rid of some of their symptoms, and it’s not necessarily then that you find a flourishing patient you might even get an empty patient. So, really tapping into those resources where do they find positive emotions? What provides a sense of engagement for them? How can you promote positive relationships?”
WATCH: Between Two Harbors: Nature’s Hand in Healing
Treatment Options for Advanced Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage 4), which Davis is living with, means cancer cells have spread from the breast to other parts of the body, which may include the bones, liver, lungs, brain, and beyond.
Breast cancer spreads through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The blood carries cancer cells to different body parts, where they grow as new tumors.
As the cancer spreads to other body parts, patients may experience additional symptoms depending on where the cancer has spread. Examples include:
- Bones: Severe bone pain or fractures
- Lungs: Difficulty breathing, chest pain, new cough
- Liver: Yellowing of the skin (jaundice), abdominal pain, nausea, and/or vomiting
- Brain: Headaches, memory loss, changes in vision, seizures
WATCH: Treatment options for metastatic breast cancer
Although stage 4 breast cancer is not curable, several treatment options exist that can extend the life of patients. Treatment options depend on the stage, type of primary breast cancer, and whether hormone receptors are positive.
Treatment can include a combination of:
- Chemotherapy: Oral or IV medications that are toxic to tumor cells
- Hormonal therapies: Drugs that lower estrogen levels or block estrogen receptors from allowing the cancer cells to grow
- Targeted therapies: Drugs that target your tumor’s specific gene mutations
- Immunotherapy: Medications that stimulate your immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells
- Radiation: The use of high-energy rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors
- Surgery: To remove a cancerous tumor or lymph nodes (uncommon with stage IV; more common in stages I, II, and III)
- Clinical trials: Studies of new medications, treatments, and other therapies offer hope for better outcomes
Resilient learning to overcome any obstacle
What You Need to Know About Survivorship
Whether you’re beginning your journey into survivorship or are a seasoned survivor, you’ll quickly learn that it’s a term with many layers. At its simplest, ‘survivorship’ signifies the state of living beyond a challenging event or diagnosis, such as cancer. More specifically, it marks the period after treatment where a patient goes from merely surviving to thriving, as they navigate their newfound lease on life.
It’s important to remember that survivorship isn’t just an end state – it’s a continuous journey. It begins the moment a person is diagnosed with a significant health condition and continues throughout their life. You might hear people say things like, “from the moment of diagnosis, you become a survivor.”
It’s a powerful sentiment that reflects the courage and resilience involved in battling a serious illness.
Being a survivor also means redefining your life while coping with the aftermath of disease and its treatment. This phase might include the challenge of dealing with physical and emotional changes, attending regular check-ups, the fear of recurrence, or the need for long-term medication. Despite these hurdles, many survivors find unique strength, growth, and transformation during this time.
Survivorship is much more than just the absence of disease—it’s a new stage of life, a rite of passage. Your journey might not have been one you would have chosen, but through it, you’ll uncover a greater understanding of yourself and what you’re capable of. Each person’s survivorship journey is unique, and how you choose to travel is entirely up to you.
Remember—navigating this new terrain called ‘Survivorship’. It might be challenging, but remember, you’re not alone. There are ample resources and support systems designed to help you along the way.
Continued Medical Care
Don’t lose sight of the importance of continued medical care – always keep your follow-up appointments and adhere to any healthcare recommendations.
Remember, embracing these coping strategies can help you navigate your way into survivorship with greater ease and renewed energy. Just remember – slow and steady wins the race! You’ve overcome huge hurdles, it’s okay to take this new stage of your life at your own pace.
WATCH: How To Reclaim Joy– A New Chapter Of The Breast Cancer Dialogues
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
