Archive November 2, 2025

After being first diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32, Amy Dowden revealed her battle with the cancer and how she stared death in the face before receiving the all-clear.

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Strictly star Amy Dowden stared death in the face during her gruelling cancer battle and admitted she initially ‘thought the worst’ before she finally celebrated the all clear in February 2024. The dancer’s life changed forever in May 2023 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32, and she has since become one of the UK’s most recognisable advocates for early cancer detection.

Amy understood that speaking out could potentially save another life by sharing her journey and advocating for everyone who wanted to keep her safe from everyone and everything and fearing the worst. The Strictly professional dancer, who teamed up with Tom Skinner this year and was sadly the series’s first celebrity, opened up to OK! regarding her diagnosis. She claimed that the cancer experience “never leaves you” even though she is feeling like herself once more.

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She continued, “I want to do everything I can to raise awareness and spread the message to help others since my own breast cancer diagnosis.” I’m so proud to now be able to negotiate my diagnosis. I’m finally able to identify with who I am. I’ve made it to Amy once more. I’m content with my life right now. However, the impact of cancer and everything you experience throughout your diagnosis are unavoidable.

I never anticipated that I would develop cancer. Unfortunately, breast cancer is not discriminatory, and sadly, more and more people are being diagnosed with it at such a young age.

She explained how she wanted to avoid everyone and fight the battle head-on to raise awareness so that others could potentially save lives by sharing more about her journey.

“There were times where I felt as though I just wanted to shut off from the world. I didn’t want to share updates or discuss what I was going through. But at the end of the day, if there’s one positive that would come from all of my oversharing was that hopefully even one person would be more inclined to check themselves.

It was simply about that, in my opinion. Saving lives was the topic. I had a lot of thought about mortality. It’s frightful. When you’re in such a dark place, your mind wanders to the most bizarre places. I anticipated the worst after receiving my initial diagnosis and while I was awaiting confirmation of the plan of action. The worst possible scenario. Your mind transports you to those terrible places when you’re upset and emotionally upset, and it causes the worst emotions in you. Despite everything, I’m still here.

Fans were relieved to see Amy make her Strictly dance floor return this year, but they also were disappointed to see Tomas Skinner and Amy be chosen for the spot. Amy discussed getting to know the real Tom during their brief time on Strictly after their sadly negative outcomes, and how he helped her overcome her confidence during his brief absence.

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He is “adorable.” He looked after me, she claimed. We’ve had a lot of laughter. Although we’ve worked so hard, a glitterball would have been amazing, but I’ve come to understand that happiness, health, and being alive are more important than anything.

“I’ve made a lifelong friend, and I’m unchangeable.” I’m a little disappointed that a Ballroom boy didn’t get to do the Ballroom, but I’ve had a difficult time over the past three years, as you know.

I lost all my confidence as a dancer, but when I walked into the room with you, I was so happy and appreciative.

Since then, Amy and fellow survivor Gemma Ainger have created a free app called My Breast Friend that is designed to make self-checks simple, stigma-free, and routine.

Download My Breast Friend from all major app stores. For more information please visit https://mybreastfriend.health

Sister Wendy Beckett, a nun who lived in a caravan before passing away in 2018 at the age of 88, was a star in a number of BBC programs.

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Sister Wendy Beckett, a nun who spent much of her life in seclusion in a caravan in Norfolk, unexpectedly became a BBC television sensation in the 1990s. Gaining global recognition through BBC art documentaries viewed by millions, Wendy Beckett generously donated all her earnings to charity when she died in 2018.

Wendy Mary Beckett, a doctor’s daughter, was born on February 25, 1930 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before moving back to South Africa, she received a teaching degree from Liverpool’s Notre Dame College of Education in 1954.

She later lectured at the University of the Witwatersrand before returning to her native country to teach English and Latin at convents in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Unfortunately, due to health issues, Sister Wendy had to stop teaching by 1970.

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She left the Notre Dame order with the permission of the Pope, moving back to England, according to the Express, to become a consecrated virgin and hermit.

She initially lived in a caravan and later in a small mobile home on the grounds of the Carmelite Monastery at Quidenham, Norfolk, reports the Daily Record.

However, her life quickly changed as a result of a chance encounter. A film crew asked to record her talking about art after they overheard her comments at an exhibition.

In 1992, the BBC received her first program, Sister Wendy’s Odyssey. With her natural ability to appear in front of the camera, Sister Wendy surprised everyone, including herself.

In her follow-up show, Sister Wendy’s Grand Tour (1994), she traveled across Europe to admire the continent’s stunning galleries and artistic creations. By the late 1990s, Wendy was one of the most successful presenters on the BBC.

A 25% of British viewers watched her programs at the height of her fame. With Sister Wendy’s American Collection on PBS in 1997, she won over the American market and received the praise of “the most unlikely and famous art critic in the history of television.”

Beckett never gave up her solitary lifestyle despite being famous. She would travel to filming locations, but she always ended up staying in her caravan, where she was always present.

She kept her promise of poverty by praying for up to seven hours each day, rarely watched movies, or went to museums while working. The Carmelite order that gave her refuge received all of her earnings from the BBC and book deals.

Sister Wendy vanished from the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham, Norfolk, on December 26, 2018, at the age of 88. She had lived on its grounds for almost 50 years, but never as a member of the Carmelite community itself, according to the order’s announcement.

Sister Wendy hosted a number of notable documentaries while writing an impressive 25 books that covered everything from spiritual reflections to art criticism. She gained notoriety for her open discussions about sexuality and nudity in art, which suggested that honoring the human body as a part of God’s creation was unethical.

Although her commentary is frequently unexpected and open-minded, reverence and admiration were always displayed.