The professional dancer spoke of the ‘devastating blow’ that was her own diagnosis

 

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Strictly star Amy Dowden (Image: BBC)

Amy Dowden has vowed to spend the ‘rest of her life’ raising awareness and funds to help tackle cancer following the ‘devastating blow’ of her own diagnosis.
The Strictly Come Dancing star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and subsequently underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy. She then revealed in November last year that she had to go through another mastectomy, sharing that it wasn’t to treat a new disease, but was a new course of action following discussions with her medical team.
Since her diagnosis, Amy, 35, has documented her cancer experience online and said that she is determined to use her platform, which consists of 727,000 followers on Instagram, to campaign for greater awareness.

Speaking on the red carpet for the TV Choice Awards on Monday night (February 2), the professional dancer told the Press Association: “I never thought at 32 I would be facing a devastating blow of a breast cancer diagnosis and I want to use my platform in the right way, in the best way possible, and I will do for the rest of my life to hopefully raise awareness, raise money and hopefully save lives.”

The dancer has since returned to the hit BBC One dancing show and appeared in the latest series alongside her celebrity partner, former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, with the pair becoming the first couple to leave the series.

Along with being loved by many, the dancing programme has also been behind a number of scandal-related headlines over the years which Dowden has said makes her “really sad”. She said: “Strictly has got me through the darkest of times.

“I’ve been there on the oncology unit when I was having chemotherapy and I’ve seen what Strictly does for those going through really tough times and getting them through the winter months, battling something really serious. It’s the escapism of what they’re really going through.