Strictly Come Dancing pro Dianne Buswell has revealed that her father has undergone his first round of chemotherapy.
Last month, the Australian dancer, 34, appeared visibly emotional on the BBC series and later explained her dad Mark was suffering from ill health.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, she informed her social media followers that her father had started treatment. She hasn’t, however, clarified his specific diagnosis.
Buswell wrote alongside a photo of him lying on a hospital bed: “I’m so proud of you, dad, first round of chemotherapy today. I wish I could be there to hold your hand and support you in person but I do know that I’m making you so proud over here in my concert every week!
“The Australian nurses and doctors are now very aware of Strictly Come Dancing as my dad won’t stop talking about it. You can do this daddy xxx Go mark @mark.3802 @rinabuswell.” (sic).
Chemotherapy is often used on patients who have cancer, but can also be used to treat other conditions including blood disorders and autoimmune diseases.
After sharing her post, Buswell received a flood of supportive messages from fans, friends and her Strictly co-stars.
Stacey Dooley, Claudia Winkleman, Jowita PrzystaÅ, and boyfriend Joe Sugg’s sister Zoe all commented with love heart emojis.
While Amy Dowden, who has just finished chemotherapy for stage 3 breast cancer, wrote: “Sending all my love to whole Buswell family! Mark you got this and soon it’s going to be a distant memory!
“Roll on 2024 where you will be watching Dianne live in concerts. Thinking of you.”
“You can do this Mark!!!” commented dancer Katya Jones.
Buswell previously opened up about her dad’s health in a YouTube Q&A, and spoke about her heartbreak of not being near him in Australia while he is undergoing treatment.
She shared: “I thought I would be very upfront and honest with you all. Last week I got some news about my dad’s health and I won’t go into detail, but obviously that affected me.
“Being away from home and not being able to support and help your family in a time of need is quite a difficult thing, so I did struggle a little bit last week in terms of that.”
The BBC star shared that her family had plans to spend Christmas in the UK and watch her on Strictly, but given her father’s health, she will now travel to Australia at the end of the year.
When originally sharing his health diagnosis, she said there was “a little road ahead” for him, but believed he was “going to be fine”.
