Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has shared her plans to 'keep busy' as she was seen reuniting with a former co-star after undergoing surgery for breast cancer. Amy shared last month how she'd found a lump which was later confirmed as stage 3 breast cancer.
The Welsh dancer, who has appeared on the BBC's hit dance show since 2017, first discovered a lump in her right breast in April, the day before she and her husband Ben Jones flew to the Maldives for their belated honeymoon. Following her trip, Amy said she was getting ready for a dance show when she noticed the lump had become bigger and went to the doctors where she was quickly referred and told the news she had stage 3 breast cancer.
Earlier this month, Amy underwent surgery to remove her right breast. In a post-surgery update, Amy told her fans and followers that her surgery “went well” and gave a “big thank you” to her surgeons and nurses who had been “utterly amazing”. She added in a message on her Instagram Story: "(I’m) very sore but focusing on the positives, they said the surgery went well! Thanks for all the support and messages."
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She has since been waiting to hear whether she will need solely radiotherapy treatment, or chemotherapy, too. But in the meantime, Amy spent some of her weekend meeting up with Dragons' Den star and entrepreneur Sara Davies, whom she met when she competed on the 19th series of Strictly.
Sharing a photograph with her 412,000 followers on Instagram, Amy revealed that she and Sara are in the process of working on an exciting project. In the snap, the pair can be seen leaning into each other as they beamed for the camera.
"With my super lovely @saradaviescc," Amy, 32, wrote beside a string of sparkling pink love heart emojis. "Working on something super fun! EXACTLY what I needed!" The much-loved dancer then included the hashtags: "friends," "havemissedher," and "recoveringwiththebest."
And Amy's fans and followers were quick to respond to the post. @dr.vicky.v.rop said: "Doing something different as a breast cancer patient feels so good! Otherwise it's just lots of things being done to you & absolutely everything is about cancer! Enjoy!!" to which Amy replied: "Absolutely personally in need distractions and to keep busy as I can when I can. Everyone is different there’s no manual and my thoughts and love goes to everyone on this journey. How are you? Sending love."
@amelia_shimells commented: "Such a gorgeous picture! So so lovely to see your smile." @allimollynew wrote: "Knowing what you are going through I hope you feel as well as you look." @amydcwden replied: "Such a lovely pic! can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on." @scd.amyscarlos shared: "Awww love this pic! Cannot wait to see what you two have been up to." @mhsmiler added: "This is wonderful to see."
On her way to meet Sara, Amy posted a selfie as she travelled in the car. "This sun," she typed as she caught the sunny glow coming from the window. "How I travel right now with my mastectomy pillow," she added referring to the cushion secured between her and the seatbelt.
After going public with the news pf her diagnosis in the hopes of raising awareness of the importance of checking your breasts, Amy later returned to social media and reshared a picture that had first been shared in February showing performing alongside child dancers Luca Ivanets and Pebble-Rose Spratt during Strictly's Blackpool Week last year.
She said: "This feeling performing is like no other! The emotion, excitement, adrenaline and I can't wait for it again. It feeds my souls!" Amy then shared a heartfelt message to those who have responded to her news. She added: "Thank u for every single comment and message today! It means so much to me and my incredible family I'm so lucky to be surrounded by! Thank you."
Sarah James, executive producer of the BBC series, has said amid Amy's determination to return to the ballroom: "Amy is an exceptional person, both on and off the dance floor, and is adored by her entire Strictly Come Dancing family. Everyone on the show is sending Amy all our love and she knows that we are all here to support her, whenever she needs us."
