Amy Dowden, a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, has shared details of her “chemotherapy journey” in an effort to spread awareness of the medication.
The 32-year-old professional dancer received her stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis in May, and she subsequently announced that she will not be participating in this year’s series after discovering more tumours following a single mastectomy.
Amy stated in her most recent update on Instagram that she had started chemotherapy and was feeling “tender, bruised, and uncomfortable.”
Amy wrote: “I’ve chosen I want to share my chemo experience to help raise awareness, possibly get people checking and for understanding what we go through” next to a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed.
‘Port fitted! Wasn’t looking forward to it. Wasn’t easy… my veins! Feeling tender, bruised and sore but the port will help massively over the next few weeks and allow me to dance when I feel well enough.
‘A port sits under the skin and the tube goes along my vein to the heart giving safe access for chemo ( I believe, I’m no dr!) Rrrrrrright that’s ✔️done! Ps don’t swipe to last slide if squeamish!.’
She received a deluge of encouragement from previous and present Strictly contestants and stars, including Gorka Marquez, who wrote: “You got this Amy.”
“Brave lady xx,” commented Kym Marsh, a competitor in the series from the previous year.
Kaye Adams, a cast member of Loose Women and a dancer on the 2022 season of the programme, wrote: “Sending love xx.”
In an Instagram Live with breast cancer survivor and Paralympic medalist Erin Kennedy, Amy first admitted she would need chemotherapy.
‘For me, my journey, everything changed,’ she said.
‘They found another type of cancer and then they told me I needed chemo – for me that was a massive blow,’ she continued.
‘It wasn’t in the plan, originally – and I know the plan you can’t get fixated on.’
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Confirming she was not going to be able to compete in this year’s Strictly, she added: ‘This year, it means I’m not going to be able to dance with a celebrity on Strictly, but I’m in such regular contact with the team – the BBC have just been utterly incredible.’
Amy posted on Instagram on May 24 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and said, “Hey everyone, I’ve got some news that isn’t easy to share.”
‘I’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer but I’m determined to get back on that dance floor before you know it.’
Shirley Ballas, a Strictly Come Dancing judge, recently expressed her respect for Amy to Metro.co.uk, calling her “one of the strongest women I know.”
Amy joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 and has danced with celebrities including James Bye from EastEnders and Tom Fletcher from McFly.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
Source My Celebrity Life.
