Two Years After Cancer Nearly Took Her Dance Forever: Strictly Star Amy Dowden Shares Powerful Before-And-After Selfie And Breaks Down Her Darkest Fears
Strictly star Amy Dowden has reflected on her cancer battle with a poignant post depicting ‘the lowest she’s ever been’ compared to her joyous current selfHer heartbreaking caption detailed how she felt she would ‘never get the old Amy back’ and that she was sure cancer ‘taken away her dancing shoes’Amy then shared an image showing her raising a glass, per her promise in her post
Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has opened up on the darkest chapter of her life, sharing a deeply emotional post reflecting on her cancer battle — and the terrifying fear that she might have to “hang up her dancing shoes for good.”
The professional dancer, now 35, who has appeared on Strictly since 2017, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023. She underwent an intense and exhausting course of treatment that included a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatment, and at one point she nearly died after developing sepsis.
She thanked her husband Ben Jones for all his support (the couple pictured in 2018)
In February 2024, Amy was finally given the all-clear. Since then, she has battled her way back to the dance floor and has returned to Strictly this year, where she is currently partnered with Thomas Skinner.
Amy paid tribute to her co-star Carlos Zu for helping her recovery (Carlos and Amy pictured last year)
On Sunday night, Amy shared a devastating side-by-side comparison on Instagram: one image taken two years ago showing her lying in a hospital bed, bald, with a cannula in her hand — and a second photo showing her now, smiling, healthy and strong.
Last month, Amy shared a health update as she marked two weeks since having a second mastectomy. She shared a ‘post surgery’ selfie wearing a compression bra and brown checked trousers
Alongside the images, Amy poured out her emotions in a heartbreaking message, admitting she once believed she would never be the same again and that cancer had stolen her future as a dancer.
She wrote:
“EXACTLY two years apart THIS WEEKEND. When I see memories like this it makes me so very proud…”
She went on to reveal that the first image was taken after she was rushed into hospital by ambulance, gravely ill:
The dancer was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023 and underwent treatment including a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatment and also almost died of sepsis
“I didn’t know at the time but I had another blood clot on the lung, and also all the side effects of eight rounds of gruelling chemotherapy…”
Amy described the moment she entered the ambulance and turned to her husband Ben Jones and her close friend:
“I said cancer has taken me, I’ll never be the same again, I’ll never dance again. I was at the lowest point I’d ever been.”
She added that she also had a broken foot, leaving her utterly unable to imagine how she could ever regain her old life:
“I couldn’t see how I could ever get the old Amy back.”
As part of her ongoing cancer treatment, Amy visits her local oncology ward every month to receive an injection and to be monitored
By contrast, the second image shows Amy exactly two years later — after completing two major dancing tours, returning to Strictly, and just three weeks after another mastectomy.
“It didn’t come easy,” she admitted. “After a year of real hard work, it finally got me feeling like me again. I’m posting this to show it’s POSSIBLE.”
Amy added:
“A year ago I told myself cancer took my dancing — I believed I needed to hang my dancing shoes up. But my darling husband Ben and Carlos Gu proved and made sure it didn’t.”
She went on to thank her medical team, family and friends for saving her:
“Tonight I raise a glass to the past year… Cancer, you didn’t take and will not take who I am.”
Still Recovering After A Second Mastectomy
Last month, Amy shared another honest health update as she marked two weeks since having a second mastectomy. She posted a post-surgery selfie wearing a compression bra and checked trousers, admitting recovery had been slow.
She wrote:
“This picture was taken the day I came out of hospital… I’m feeling proud of how far I’ve come. I’m focusing on the little things — gradual improvements in movement, celebrating the small wins.”
She also shared a candid video with fans explaining that she was finally “starting to feel like me again.”
“My energy is back, it’s not so tender, the bruising has gone down. I’m looking forward to doing physio and getting more movement.”
Amy explained that she has had to change the way she dresses during recovery:
“I can’t wear low tops, I’ve got to wear compression bras, and getting a jumper on is hard — but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not a problem.”
A Reminder To Check Yourself
As part of her continued aftercare, Amy now visits her oncology ward every month for monitoring and injection treatment.
She ended her health update with an important warning to followers:
“Please remember to check yourself.”
Amy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023 and endured one of the most gruelling multi-stage treatments seen among recent Strictly stars, making her recovery one of the most emotional comebacks in the show’s history.
Today, two years after believing her body — and her passion — had been taken from her, Amy Dowden is back on the dance floor once more.
Rewritten from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/