Amy Dowden hopes to make Strictly Come Dancing comeback after undergoing second mastectomy
Amy went into remission last yearStrictly Come Dancing favourite Amy Dowden made an emotional appearance on Lorraine today (Monday December 1), admitting she hopes to make it back to the ballroom after undergoing another mastectomy.
The star was eliminated from the series but doesn’t want her hopes of reaching the final dashed due to her health battles.
She told the host that she “can’t go through another cancer diagnosis again” as she prepares for her second mastectomy.
The 35-year-old Welsh dancer has been bravely documenting her treatment ever since her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Lorraine viewers today saw Amy reflect on the preventative mastectomy she underwent last month — a major step taken in the hope of stopping the disease from returning.
Amy Dowden’s preventative mastectomy
During today’s edition of the show, Amy spoke about her cancer battle and the preventative mastectomy she underwent last month.
Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023. She underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and later went into remission. However, last month, she underwent another mastectomy after pre-cancerous cells were detected.
Taking to Instagram last month, Amy wrote: “Hey everyone. As you all know, I’ve always been very open about my health and the care I receive. So I’d like to start by being clear what I am about to share is not to treat a new cancer diagnosis. However, following a recent appointment with my incredible medical team, we’ve decided that I’ll be having another mastectomy this week.
“They’re confident that, all going well, I can expect a straightforward recovery. Once I have healed I look forward to rejoining my Strictly family. Of course I’m going to miss not being there so much but I will be watching from home and look forward to cheering everyone on.”
Amy admits ‘I can’t go through another cancer diagnosis again’
Today, in a VT on the show, Amy spoke about her latest operation, and her cancer journey as a whole.
“I think the shocking thing for me with a cancer diagnosis was I thought that once I’d rang that bell, it was going to be all done and dusted,” she said.
“But it really, really isn’t. It was two years ago since I finished my active chemotherapy, and in the following year, unfortunately, with my mammogram, it picked up specs on my other breast. ”
“Although they came back as pre-cancerous cells and specs, it’s still always been in the back of my mind,” she said.
“I think something else that always has worried me is we knew I had a tumour in my right breast and we knew I had ductal cancer. But when they went in to operate, they found two other tumours for me, [that’s helping me make] a decision to take my left breast off. This is preventative. I’m young. I want children. I would do anything to just have my old life back and not be going through this.”
“I certainly don’t want to have surgery again. But what I do know is I can’t go through another cancer diagnosis again. I can’t,” she then added.
Amy’s hopes for Strictly future
Amy was also shown talking about the surgery with her husband Ben, who told her how well she’s recovered from her cancer battle.
Speaking before the surgery, Amy admitted: “I’m feeling obviously nervous, anxious, but I just want to get it done now…I got rid of all my mastectomy stuff, only in the summer because I thought, I’m never going to need this again. And here we are again.
“People say to me, oh, you’re so strong. You’re so brave. But you have no choice, do you? Um. And I think I’m just ultimately right now making the right decision for me.”
She also opened up about how now is the right time for the procedure.
“I’ve been eliminated from Strictly and I do feel like the universe is telling me something,” she added. And you know what? Going to bed every night with peace of mind, I think will mean more than anything to me.”
Opening up about her hopes for her Strictly future, she said: “I would really love to be back dancing, a little bit, in the Strictly final.”
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