Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden was left in tears as she documented shaving her head amid her breast cancer treatment.
The pro dancer, 32, shared an emotional video of herself surrounded by her family as she cut her hair and branded the experience “the hardest step so far” of her health battle.
Sharing the footage to Instagram, the BBC star said she wanted to reclaim her identity after feeling like she has had “so much taken away from me” since getting her diagnosis in May.
Captioning the post, she penned: “This too shall pass. Taking control – the hardest step so far. I tried my best to save it.
“I know it’s only hair but these past few months I’ve had what feels like so much taken away from me that has made me not feel like Amy.
Adding: “I’m missing every possible aspect of dancing. I just wanted to keep my identity with my hair and I tried telling myself it wouldn’t go. But I would dread the pain of waking up to the shredding everyday.
“I’ve not been able to take control of this journey so far, but as you can see with some of my loved ones I took the courage and control.
“It’s going to take some time to get use to and learn to love and embrace but, I’m now focussing – not on the hair I’m losing but the hair I’m going to get back and the happy dancing, tea lover who talks way to fast whilst rolling every rrrrr who is still there inside with or without hair!”
Dowden also revealed that she is now halfway through her chemotherapy treatment, writing: “Since taking control, I feel I can now see the finish line.
“This for me was a hurdle I couldn’t even bring myself to think or speak about. I’ve done it and I’ve also crossed the half way chemo line!
“I’m feeling empowered and positive! To everyone on their own journey, whatever that maybe, I’m sending love, power, strength and courage. I found my courage for this step and I’m proud.
“(There are some fun before and after vids/reels coming, but I wanted to share the truth and hopefully help others, and bring normality to a beautiful bald head).”
After sharing her tearful update, Dowden was inundated with messages of support from her Strictly family.
Fellow pro Dianne Buswell commented: “You are still all the things you were before, just with added courage, strength and determination. One thing about you is that you don’t let anything take over!”
“You always said to me, ‘I’m not Amy with Crohn’s, I’m Amy the dancer.’ You’re still Amy the dancer and always will be. I cannot wait to have you back on the dancefloor with us, chatting away [and] making endless cups of tea! We all love you so much and I’m such a proud friend. You are taking control.”
While Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima wrote: “The strongest woman I ever met! love you so much Amy!”
In May, the professional dancer announced she had been diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer.
Since her diagnosis, she has documented her health battle on social media and previously revealed how she was rushed to hospital following her first round of chemotherapy after she had developed sepsis and suffered three blood clots as a result.
The Welsh dancer then said of her most recent treatment that she “just had the usual side effects from chemo”, which included sickness, fatigue, mouth ulcers and hair loss.
