Over the years, Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has been outspoken about her various health battles. On Wednesday, May 24, the 32-year-old from Caerphilly revealed that she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Amy announced the news in an exclusive interview with Hello! Magazine. "I've been through quite a lot in my life and this is another hurdle," she said.
The dancer, who is married to Benjamin Jones, shared her interview with the publication on Instagram. She said: "Hey all, I've got some news which isn't easy to share. I've recently been diagnosed with breast cancer but I'm determined to get back on that dancefloor before you know it. Welsh love Amy."
Read more: Strictly's Amy Dowden diagnosed with breast cancer aged 32
Latin dance champion Amy received her breast cancer diagnosis last week, mere months after her honeymoon. It becomes the second condition that she is battling but despite her grade three prognosis, she remains determined to stay positive.
Amy told Hello! magazine: "My doctor explained to me that there are three grades, and three is the most aggressive, but they feel like they've caught mine early and to not be too alarmed because grade 3 would be expected in somebody of my age."
She revealed she is still waiting for her treatment plan, and does not know what stage the cancer is at yet. Amy has decided to open up about her diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease, just as she has done with her Chrohn's condition.
Amy was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when she was 19 after being referred to a specialist in London. She’d been suffering from bouts of illness from the age of 11.
In an interview with WalesOnline in 2020, Amy recalled how Crohn’s affected her in her teenage years. "It was a real roller coaster of emotions, probably the hardest time of my life.
"My sister Rebecca used to question, and that really upset me, why did I get away Scot-free? Her worst part of her childhood was watching me go in and out of hospital and be in so much pain, and my brother, Lloyd, said to me, that they'd be picked up from school and have to 'go to so-and-so's tonight because Amy's back in hospital'.
"When you're in that pain you don't realise what's going on around you, realising the impact and effect it has on my parents, who would have done anything to take the pain away from me, and that was devastating. It's not just affecting my life, there was an emotional factor on them too."
Whilst competing with McFly’s Tom Fletcher in Strictly’s 2019 series, Amy suffered a Crohn’s flare up and needed to move in with the star. This didn’t deter her though and at the time she said: “I have always been driven to win, so Crohn's was never going to hold me back.” Amy and Tom were the eighth couple to be eliminated from the contest that year.
Amy, who is vocal about her battle with Crohn’s, was the subject of a BBC documentary about the illness in 2020. The film, which was called Crohn’s and Me, subsequently won a BAFTA Cymru award.
In the film, Amy shared how Strictly had helped her cope with the condition. “Strictly has been more than a dance show to me, it got me through the darkest times of my illness. For me it was a big inspiration to keep me dancing. Dancing has pulled me through my Crohn's but it's a battle. I live in fear that what I love the most could be taken away. And I've been more ill this year than I have been in a long time.”
Elsewhere in the hour-long documentary she described how husband Ben, who she married last year, has been “instrumental” in her battle against Crohn’s disease.
In March Amy was given a Points of Light award by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for raising awareness of Crohn's disease. At the time she said: “I know when I need to rest, and when I have to eat simply and drink lots of water."
After she announced that she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer, several celebrities came forward to support Amy. Her 2022 Strictly co-star Tyler West called her a “Welsh dragon” who would be “powering through” her illness.
In response to her Instagram post several other Strictly stars voiced their admiration for Amy. Gemma Atkinson, who competed in 2017, wrote: “We’re all Fighting behind you all the way Amy!!!!! Sending so much love to you.”
Fellow Strictly pro Dianne Buswell said: “Our Welsh dragon is going to fight this !!!! and I can not wait for the moment you are back on that dance floor with us.” Last year’s champion Jowita Przystał wrote: “you’re the strongest woman I know and I know you’ll be back on that dance floor very soon!!!!”
The One Show host Alex Jones commented: “Oh Amy! Thinking of you and sending you so much love. Cariad mawr.” And presenter Owain Wyn Evans said: “Sending all of my love darling.”
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