Strictly Come Dancing professional singer Amy Dowden has revealed she is suffering a second cancer scare.
The 34-year-old dancer was diagnosed with third-stage aggressive breast cancer in May last year. She was on honeymoon with her husband Ben Jones when she discovered a worrying lump in her breast. Amy has remained positive despite the heartbreaking diagnosis and a number of setbacks.
Both her first and second cycles of chemotherapy resulted in emergency hospital admissions and life-threatening complications including sepsis and blood clots. She then underwent a mastectomy and completed chemotherapy treatment but will miss the 2023 season of Strictly.
She was diagnosed for the second time with “a different type of cancer” in July last year and began chemotherapy in August. In February this year, the Strictly star revealed that a recent medical check-up “showed no signs of disease”, describing the news from her doctor as “words I’d dreamed of” and her “biggest achievement ever”.
However, Amy ended up returning to hospital again after a health scare led to doctors expressing concerns after tests. She spent sleepless nights waiting for the results.
“It was a scary, very worrying time,” Amy said while filming the BBC show Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me. “I couldn’t believe it and thought I’d never go through this again, I’d never see him again. It was heartbreaking for all my family.” She hoped the operation would cure her cancer, but two months later she found out doctors had found a different type of cancer.
It took Amy more than a year to fully recover and her new documentary chronicles the past 15 months. Amy said: “A year ago I was newly married and about to go on honeymoon. It was an exciting new chapter in my life but then my life changed forever when I discovered a lump in my breast.
“I never thought I’d have cancer at this age. I have family and friends who have survived cancer but I never imagined how much it would impact my life.
Through this journey I’ve learned so much about myself and what a cancer diagnosis means. I hope that others find hope and strength through this film and that it inspires them to look at themselves no matter how old they are,” she told Media.
She added: “I’m so excited and grateful to be returning to @bbcstrictly – my heart is so happy. The best team on and off the dance floor. Can’t wait to get back to what I love most – dancing! I feel blessed and more excited than ever. Come on! Thank you @bbcstrictly for your constant support. Hmm. #amysback #strictlycomedydancing #let’sdothis #excited #can’twait #myheartissohappy.”