21 October 2023 , 19:35
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Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has shared heartbreaking details about her cancer diagnosis.
Appearing on Loose Women on Friday as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Amy gave devastating details of the day she was diagnosed with the disease. The 33-year-old Strictly dance professional appeared on the show alongside panellists Denise Welch, Jane Moore, Judi Love, Denise Welch and Nadia Sawalha.
During her time on the show, Amy gave details of the diagnosis she received back in May and explained she has since undergone an operation, a mastectomy and received fertility treatment. Casting her mind back to the day she feared she had breast cancer, Amy said she found a lump in her breast the day before she was due to go on her honeymoon.
Amy has been married to professional dancer Ben Jones since July 2022 and said she kept her worries from him while they flew away for their romantic post-wedding holiday. She said: "I didn't tell Ben. I went on the honeymoon and every day you're putting sun tan lotion on and I could feel it. I just had this gut feeling."
Amy Dowden has shared heartbreaking details of her cancer journey (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Explaining why she decided not to tell her husband, Amy continued: "He wouldn't have gone on the honeymoon. And I really wanted this honeymoon, for a break… What could we have done?"
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She went on to explain that once she was back home, she set out to get medical help - explaining she told Ben of her worries and he joined her to visit the doctor. Amy said: "My twin sister and Ben came with me and I knew…
“I could tell from the breast care nurses, who are just phenomenal. They are handpicked, they're amazing and then I could tell from the surgeon's face and then he said to me you've got breast cancer and then in the next sentence, ‘What's your plans for children?’, and for me that was just…"
Struggling with the memory, Loose Women star Jane then interjected to suggest the doctors gave: "A double blow".
Amy explained she has since had fertility treatment and added: "I keep saying to myself, ‘This too shall pass’ and unfortunately, people are getting diagnosed every day with breast cancer. I just hope that I can give them some encouragement, that they can see that I got through it and I got back on the dancefloor and that there is light at the end of the tunnel."
On Saturday night, Strictly fans were thrilled to see Amy back on the show. She has been forced to retire from performing on the long-running BBC series this year while she continues her cancer battle. But she was present in the studio on Saturday to support the pro dancers.
Viewers noticed Amy smiling alongside the other Strictly star, and one said online: "It’s so lovely to see you where you belong on a Saturday night. Keep going girl. Another said: "Also, love seeing Amy there supporting all her friends in the cast despite what she’s going through. She's incredible," as a third added: "So happy Amy is there again this week."