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.
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.
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
Source: Mirror
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