Strictly professional Amy Dowden has recently opened up about needing a second mastectomy, two years after she had to have an operation following a breast cancer diagnosis
Amy Dowden admits she “wouldn’t be alive” if it weren’t for Strictly Come Dancing, following her devastating battle with cancer. The 35-year-old professional dancer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023.
She subsequently underwent a double mastectomy. However, doctors later discovered Amy had “another type of cancer” which required chemotherapy treatment, causing her to miss the 2023 series of Strictly.
Welsh dancer Amy received the news there was “no evidence of the disease” during a check-up in August 2024. Sharing on social media, she said these were the “words she’s been dreaming of” since her diagnosis, but concedes it could take up to five years to receive the “all clear”.
Now, appearing on the Dr Hilary Show, Amy credits her participation in Strictly for leading her to discover the lump on her breast.
She shared: “That show has changed my life for the better and yeah, I’m so grateful, and if it wasn’t for the show, I wouldn’t have been paired with Tom Fletcher, who was my partner in 2021.”, reports Wales Online.
“I got on so well with Tom and his partner Giovana which then led me to get involved with a breast cancer charity, Coppafeel, which then led me to check my chests, and a few months later find the lump.
“If it wasn’t for Strictly I probably wouldn’t be alive because they paired me with Tom which led me to find my cancer. The universe somehow went right for me there.”
Amy, who was paired with The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner in this year’s series, revealed earlier this week that she was undergoing a second mastectomy. However, Amy reassured fans that it was “not to treat a new cancer diagnosis”.
In an Instagram post, where she can be seen petting her dog, Amy shared: “They’re [the medical team] confident that, all going well, I can expect a straightforward recovery. Once I have healed I look forward to rejoining my Strictly family.”
She informed her followers that she would “of course” miss participating in the show but would be “watching from home and look forward to cheering everyone on”.
After a year’s hiatus, Amy made a comeback to Strictly in 2024, dancing alongside JLS star JB Gill. However, she had to withdraw midway through the series, being replaced by Lauren Oakley.
She returned once more this series but was eliminated in the second week. Earlier this year, Amy was honoured as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to fundraising and raising awareness of Crohn’s disease.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply