Strictly's Amy Dowden: TV work gave me something to get up for
Amy Dowden from Strictly Come Dancing began shooting the second installment of her show Dare to Dance when she received the news that she had breast cancer.
Amy Dowden shared that her ability to continue working on TV despite going through cancer was a motivational factor for her to get out of bed every day.
Last May, the professional dancer from Wales who appears on Strictly Come Dancing, aged 33, was informed that she had breast cancer at stage three.
The lady had begun the second season of Dare To Dance, where she guides individuals in mastering a dance sequence to amaze their loved ones.
"She said that we kept the filming going until my mastectomy which took place in June of the last year," she conveyed.
"We began shooting the film right before I found out about my cancer. Therefore, I had already met the individuals involved, provided them with their initial lessons and instructions, but then regrettably received the diagnosis," she expressed.
After my mastectomy, I returned to work as an instructor for the series, despite not being able to dance myself. We managed to finish filming before I began my chemotherapy treatment, which was two weeks later.
She mentioned that she was highly engaged, more than she had anticipated, and it truly had a positive impact.
Amy, a native of Caerphilly and a member of the Strictly team since 2017, updated her followers on Instagram this Monday. She expressed gratitude for their concern, stating that she is improving steadily after an unexpected hospitalization due to her ongoing respiratory treatment. She now receives monthly injections as part of her regimen.
The situation started when she discovered a little bump on her breast right before heading out on her honeymoon with her spouse, professional dancer Ben Jones, in April last year.
She mentioned that the ability to continue working made her feel like things were "normal".
She stated that if everything had been taken away from her, she would have faced great difficulties.
Source of the image, pictures from Getty Images.
Amy Dowden has been posting her personal encounters on social media following her cancer diagnosis.
Unexpectedly, during this particular TV show, Amy found herself requiring time off from filming as a result of undergoing treatment. However, to everyone's surprise, her fellow colleagues on Strictly came forth to lend a hand.
She mentioned that they asked for assistance from her talented colleagues from Strictly - Diane Buswell, Carlos Gu, Graziano Di Prima, Oti Mabuse - to ensure that the participants were not left out.
"She actually believes that having them participate in the show was beneficial since it allowed them to learn from the experienced performers and boost their self-assurance," she expressed.
According to Dowden, she also gained a lot of knowledge from the participants. Although the show was intended for her to provide assistance, she received assistance from them as well.
She expressed that they developed a strong bond akin to that of a close-knit family.
"When engaged in such a demanding task, establishing a strong connection among the team is crucial. To be honest, this is what assisted me in overcoming a challenging time in my existence," she expressed.
The person who dances and has been diagnosed with Crohn's disease since the age of 19, had health problems in 2023. The complications included serious side-effects from cancer treatment, blood clots, and sepsis.
In the initial stages of her cancer treatment, she strongly believes that keeping in touch with her interests and hobbies was very beneficial to her.
in her breast during a routine check-up. The surgery was successful in removing the cancerous tissue, but it left Amy feeling devastated and overwhelmed. She struggled with the physical changes to her body and the emotional toll of battling cancer. However, Amy was determined to move forward and regain her strength. She sought out support from family, friends, and cancer survivor groups, and began attending therapy to help her process her feelings. Slowly but surely, she regained her confidence and started focusing on the positive aspects of her life. Now, Amy is cancer-free and living life to the fullest. She is grateful for those who supported her in her journey and encourages others facing cancer to seek out help and support. She believes that while it may be a difficult road, there is always hope and a way to overcome the challenges that come with cancer.
She expressed that having a goal and a reason to wake up every morning helped her.
The performer frequently posts about her wellbeing on Instagram and is pleased that she can use her own encounters to bring attention to the matter.
She often gets stopped by people when she's out in public, and they share with her how much of an impact she has had on their lives.
People have actually approached me to express that they now examine their chest area regularly because of my experience. This was the primary reason behind my decision to share my story publicly, as I never anticipated being diagnosed with breast cancer at such a young age (32).
