Amy Dowden reveals second cancer diagnosis
Amy Dowden has been diagnosed with a second type of cancer.
The 'Strictly Come Dancing' professional revealed her stage three breast cancer diagnosis in May and she underwent a mastectomy but revealed that she now will need additional chemo after more tumours were found in her body following her operation.
Amy, 32, explained during an Instagram Live chat with cancer charity CoppaFeel!: "For me, my journey, everything changed. I was originally going to have a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment.
"But then, after my MRI, they found another tumour so then it changed into a mastectomy and then, after my mastectomy, unfortunately, they found even more tumours.
"And my pathology wasn't what they were expecting, and they found another type of cancer and then they told me I needed chemo – for me that was a massive blow.
"It wasn't in the plan, originally – and I know the plan you can't get fixated on.
"So, all of a sudden, then I realised, and you get scared, but the oncologist did say that with chemo I've got a really good chance of a cure.
"I was really scared and I didn't want to do chemo but then for me straightaway it was my dancing, like, you can take away my boob but you can't take my dancing away from me and that's what I get really upset about."
Amy is upset that she won't be able to return to 'Strictly' this year but praised the BBC for taking care of her.
She said: "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.
"We are just one big family and they're going to be guided by me and there's so many ways to be involved in the show.
'"I'm just staying really positive and hopeful that I'm still going to be part of the show in some way and my aim is to continue dancing – the oncologist said to me movement is really, really good for people on chemo, it's important. So that was encouraging.
"So I have struggled in accepting that I've gotta have chemo and what comes with it – the hair loss and everything else – but I'm determined to continue in a healthy way as much as I can."
After the Instagram Live, Amy took to her Stories to thank fans for their support.
She wrote: "Just want to thank everyone for their love and support.
"I'll tackle this next step the best I can and very blessed to have the love and support of my family and friends along with you guys, thank you!
"The rest of the year looked very different to what was planned but hopefully I'll enter 2024 cancer free and I'll never take anything for granted and promise to live life to the full!"
