Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has said she is determined to “go grab life” after undergoing treatment for stage three breast cancer and fertility challenges. Her forthcoming hour-long BBC documentary, Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me, shows her battle for her health, her future family, and her love for dance following her breast cancer diagnosis last year. After a mastectomy and chemotherapy, the 34-year-old announced in February that she has “no evidence of disease” following tests, and she is due to return to the BBC dance competition for its 20th series after missing out last time.
Amy Dowden documents her cancer journey in the BBC programme Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me (BBC/Wildflame Productions/PA) “She always said ‘Go grab life’ – and that’s what she did. I’m determined to live by her motto. “I’ve learned.
.. having my hair, my eyebrows, my eyelashes stripped away from me.
.. I gained two stone in weight.
I was on steroids, chemo, broken foot – you name it – and I’ve learned that appearance really doesn’t matter. “Your soul shines through. I was stripped bare and still accepted.
I’ve learnt to love and appreciate every single moment even more in life.” Dowden was diagnosed after finding a lump in her breast the day before going to the Maldives on her honeymoon with her husband, fellow professional dancer Ben Jones last year. She then decided to document her journey undergoing cancer treatment after seeing the impact on others of her.