Amy Dowden enjoys bittersweet Strictly moment after devastating health news
Strictly’s Amy Dowden speaks on new boob’ amid breast cancer battle
Amy Dowden has shared a poignant photo update featuring herself and the Strictly Come Dancing gang, after breaking the bad news that illness has forced her out of this year’s main line-up.
She was devastated when she learnt chemotherapy commitments would prevent her from returning to the show, but the cancer-stricken star revealed this afternoon that she’d still reunited with her fellow professional dancers.
“I surprised the gang! Just what I needed! Seeing the @bbcstrictly family!” the 32-year-old exclaimed as she attached a picture of herself and 20 of her co-stars.
“Going to be an amazing series and I can’t wait to watch you all shine and be with you all when I can!”
Elaborating in a new video posted to her Instagram Stories, the beaming star admitted she’d cried “happy tears” that she’d had the chance to see them.
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“[Gorka Marquez and the team] sent me a video with messages like: ‘We miss you, Amy,’ and then a couple of minutes later, I walked in!” she giggled at her impromptu appearance.
“Definitely helped cheer me up – it’s lovely to see my talented friends [and] I feel really grateful to be part of such a special group,” Amy exclaimed.
The star is currently battling stage three breast cancer and, although she was hoping to still be able to join the series, catching up with the others is providing some consolation.
She was pictured in the latest snap with stars including new father Gorka, last year’s winner Jowita Przystal, Will Mellor’s 2022 onscreen partner Nancy Xu, plus Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima.
Her past highlights on the show have included reaching the final in 2019 with celeb partner Karim Zeroual, and wowing fans by heading to the dance floor with McFly star Tom Fletcher in 2021.
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Many of Amy’s 425,000 followers were quick to post messages of support when they saw the update, including @amysdowdenn, who gently reassured her: “You’ll be there dancing back with them before you know it. So happy you got to be with them today, so much love for you always.”
@aitchsteve chimed in: “You’re in our hearts and minds. You’ll get through this and wow us all next year with an epic comeback.”
Amy first shared her cancer diagnosis with the world back in May, and at the time had said she’d love to return to Strictly later in the year, all being well.
She kept up her fighting spirit, telling the Mirror: “If I only have radiotherapy I’ll be back on Strictly this season. Once radiotherapy is done there’ll be nothing to stop me!”
However, things didn’t go according to plan, as she later revealed to The Sun: “I was originally going to have a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment [but] after my MRI, they found another tumour.
“So then it changed into a mastectomy and then, after my mastectomy, unfortunately, they found even more tumours.”
Doctors discovered “another type of cancer” was present, meaning she’d also need gruelling chemotherapy sessions, although she disclosed that the chemo provides a “really good chance of a cure”.
Strictly’s executive producer Sarah James made a statement to the Radio Times, confirming: “We will continue to support Amy whilst she receives her treatment, and will work closely with her to ensure she can be involved in the upcoming series.”
Meanwhile, the star shared: “You can take away my boob but you can’t take my dancing away from me!”
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