Amy Dowden provided an update on her health after completing her third round of chemotherapy following her breast cancer diagnosis.
The Strictly Come Dancing actress, 33, revealed that she had suffered from illness, weariness from steroids, hair loss, and mouth ulcers, but that she was starting to feel more like herself after taking a break from social media.
Amy opened her Instagram Story on Tuesday (September 5) by saying that she had been’silent’ over the weekend in order to ‘completely heal’ from Thursday’s chemotherapy treatment.
The dancer stated that she had experienced “a little bit” of nausea and exhaustion in recent days, with steroids rendering her unable to sleep.
She noted that the steroids had given her a’moonface,’ since the medicine sometimes causes swelling and puffiness, but that she was ‘accustomed to it by now.’
Amy continued: ‘I’m definitely feeling more like Amy today. [My] mouth is covered in mouth ulcers and some are quite swollen. Obviously losing the hair still, and you can’t sleep because of the steroids but you’re so tired.’
‘So those are symptoms I’ve got but I’ve not ended up in hospital so far after this admission so that’s a win-win,’ Amy added in reference to contracting sepsis during her first round of chemotherapy.
Amy was sent to the Intensive Care Unit after becoming unwell and felt ‘freezing cold,’ as well as ‘clammy and shivering,’ with physicians eventually diagnosing her with the potentially fatal disease, which occurs when your immune system overreacts to an infection.
She was released from the hospital and given the all-clear to resume her chemotherapy treatment.
Amy also stated that she had not yet begun to lose her brows and eyelashes, despite being warned by other breast cancer survivors that this generally occurs after the third treatment.
She explained: ‘I was told by all my pink sisters that normally after your third EC, the chemo you have, is when you start to lose your eyelashes and your eyebrows. And so far, I’ve still got them.
‘Obviously, I could still lose them and I’ve still got another EC to go. Before then I could go on to a different type of chemo.’
Amy then said that she had a ‘wonderful day’ planned with her twin sister, Becky Dowden, to take advantage of the beautiful weather.
‘You’ve just got to make the most of the good days, haven’t you?’ she added.
The BBC actress then concluded her video by thanking her followers for their words of support, stating that she read each and every one and apologised for not always having the stamina to respond.
She added: ‘They’re not taken for granted and they help so much and the love and support. So thank you, honestly, from the bottom of my heart.’
Amy has kept supporters updated on her health, including her excitement at having wigs produced, after learning she had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and had a single mastectomy.
While she won’t be able to compete in Strictly 2023, she teased a comeback to the popular series, saying she hopes to appear in a complete dance performance, a home video clip, or perhaps an episode of companion show It Takes Two.
How to check your breasts for signs of cancer
CoppaFeel! offers three simple steps on how to check your own chest for signs of cancer.
Look
- Look at your boobs, pecs or chest.
- Look at the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in size, outline or shape and changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling.
Feel
- Feel each of your boobs, pecs or chest.
- Feel the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling, or any lumps, bumps or skin thickening which are different from the opposite side.
Notice your nipples
- Look at each of your nipples.
Be aware of any nipple discharge that’s not milky, any bleeding from the nipple, any rash or crusting on or around your nipple area that doesn’t heal easily and any change in the position of your nipple
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.
