Key Breast Cancer Symptoms to Watch For Following News About Ricky Gervais’s Partner Jane
Despite how prevalent breast cancer is, many people remain unaware of the full range of symptoms — and critically, that a lump isn't always the first warning sign.
When Jane Fallon, partner of comedian Ricky Gervais, quietly broke her social media silence this week, nobody could have predicted what she was about to share.
Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon attend the ceremony honoring Ricky Gervais with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 30 May 2025 in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Her announcement has prompted urgent conversations about a disease that affects one in seven women in the UK — and the symptoms that too many people still don't know to look for.
Fallon revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, caught at a very early stage thanks to a routine mammogram rather than any noticeable symptoms.
Her case is a powerful reminder of just how crucial awareness and regular screening can be — because as experts stress, a lump isn't always the first warning sign, and catching the disease early can make all the difference to outcomes.
Jane Fallon attends "David Brent: Life on the Road" New York screening at Metrograph on 2 February 2017 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
The NHS lists the key symptoms of breast cancer as a lump or swelling in the breast, changes to the skin or the size and shape of the breast or nipples, and persistent pain in the breast or armpit.
However, Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Medical Director at AXA Health Insurance, stresses that the disease doesn't always announce itself so obviously.
A woman assessing her breast | Source: Getty Images
"Cancer doesn't always start with a lump — other subtle changes to your breasts and chest could be a warning sign," she said. "That's why it's essential to be aware of certain changes in your body that could be an early sign of cancer."
She added that while most changes will turn out to be harmless, any irregularities in the breast should always be brought to the attention of a doctor or medical professional.
A healthcare worker talking with a female patient during a mammogram screening | Source: Getty Images
Dr Bradshaw has outlined six signs of breast cancer that should never be ignored:
A young woman touching her breast in a cancer detection examination | Source: Getty Images
Dr Bradshaw recommends monthly self-examinations for both men and women, describing them as "one of the best ways to detect any changes in your breasts and chest which could signify cancer".
She adds that regular self-examination "not only helps you learn what looks and feels normal to you, but also makes it easier to spot any changes."
A woman sitting on an examination table speaks to a doctor in scrubs in a cancer clinic | Source: Getty Images
Her recommended five-step self-examination process is as follows:
"If you are worried about breast cancer, have a family history of breast cancer, or spot any changes in your breasts or chest, always consult your GP or healthcare provider," Dr Bradshaw added.
A worried woman doing self breast exam at home | Source: Getty Images
Fallon, who has been with Gervais since 1982 and is also known as a TV producer and author, shared her diagnosis on Instagram after followers noticed she had been unusually quiet on the platform.
Writing candidly, she explained that the cancer was spotted not because of any symptoms she had noticed herself, but through a scheduled screening.
Jane Fallon attends the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on 5 January 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
"I had a routine mammogram a week before Christmas. I had no symptoms but the brilliant radiographer spotted something iffy & sent me for further tests & eventually a biopsy," she wrote.
Since then, she has undergone more mammograms, further biopsies, and an MRI to help pinpoint the problem area precisely. Acknowledging the toll of the process, she said, "It's been a lot, I'm not going to lie."
But she was keen to reassure her followers, noting that the prognosis is encouraging and that surgery is scheduled for the week of 23 March.
Fallon signed off with characteristic warmth and humour, revealing that she had "Dr Eric on duty" and "Nurse Pickle wondering when lunch is" — a reference to her beloved pets, who have apparently taken on medical duties during her recovery.
Around the same time, MAFS Australia relationship expert and TV personality Mel Schilling shared a devastating update of her own.
In a deeply moving Instagram post, Schilling — pictured in a tender family embrace with her husband and young daughter beside a glowing Christmas tree — revealed that her colon cancer, first diagnosed in December 2023, has now spread to her brain.
Mel Schilling attends the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at The Royal Festival Hall on 11 May 2025 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
After initially being given the all-clear following the successful removal of a tumour she had nicknamed "Terry," Schilling disclosed that small nodules were later discovered in her lungs in February 2024.
She underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy and had been due to begin a groundbreaking clinical trial this month. Over the Christmas period, however, Schilling began suffering from severe headaches and numbness along her right side — symptoms that led to the devastating discovery that the cancer had reached the left side of her brain.
"My oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do. So that's where I am now," she wrote. "My light is starting to fade — and quickly. But I am still here, still fighting, and surrounded by the most incredible love."
Despite the devastating prognosis, Schilling's message was one of love and resolve. Her final plea to followers was simple and urgent. She urged them to trust their instincts, and never hesitate to seek medical advice, as it could make all the difference.