Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her' Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected] By Milly Veitch For Mailonline Published: 09:13 BST, 25 August 2024 | Updated: 09:16 BST, 25 August 2024 e-mail View comments Amy Dowden 's twin sister Rebecca has opened up on feeling 'a sense of guilt' for having escaped serious health issues, while her sibling battled both Crohn's and cancer . Amy, 34, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer the day after she came home from her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones in 2023.
In what became the toughest year of her life, the Strictly Come Dancing star underwent a mastectomy , chemotherapy, fertility treatment and also almost died of sepsis. The dancer has spoken about how vital Rebecca's support was during her treatment, revealing she was the first person she called after being diagnosed. In a new joint interview for The Sunday Times , the two sisters opened up about their close bond and how they were 'each other’s biggest supporter.
' Amy Dowden's (right) twin sister Rebecca (left) has opened up on feeling 'a sense of guilt' for having escaped serious health issues, while her sibling battled both Crohn's and cancer Amy, 34, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer the day after she came home from her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones in 2023 In what became the toughest year of her life, the Strictly Come Dancing star underwent a mastectomy , chemotherapy, fertility treatment and also almost died of sepsis Recalling Amy's first flare-up for Crohn’s, an inflammatory bowel disease, at the age of 11, Rebecca revealed how 'lost and helpless' she felt seeing her sister in so much pain and 'so poorly and frail'. Amy explained how she had been left 'stuck in hospital on a drip', while Rebecca was able to go study to become a midwife at university. Rebecca admitted feeling guilty for being the 'lucky one', getting to do the things that Amy couldn't, and said she couldn't understand how the pair had 'shared a womb' but that Amy had had so many trials to contend with.
She said: 'It’s hard being a twin not to feel a sense of guilt. I’ve lived a carefree life. I did all the things you should do as a youngster — going on my first girls’ holiday, going to university, travelling — but because of Crohn’s, Amy never got to do those things.
'When she got her cancer diagnosis last year I would have done anything to take the pain from her. It just doesn’t make sense to me that we shared a womb yet she has been given so much to deal with.' Rebecca now works as the lead midwife at a birthing unit, but said that she is sensitive about discussing her job because Amy's cancer battle has meant she is no longer able to have children naturally.
She said: 'There’s almost nothing we don’t share, but being a midwife I’m careful about how much I talk about my job because I’m conscious that, after cancer treatment, Amy has her fertility journey ahead of her.' Earlier this year, Amy revealed she and her husband Ben created five embryos that were frozen for the future. The dancer has spoken about how vital Rebecca's support was during her treatment, revealing she was the first person she called after being diagnosed (pictured as children) Recalling Amy's first flare-up for Crohn’s, an inflammatory bowel disease, at the age of 11, Rebecca revealed how 'lost and helpless' she felt seeing her sister in so much pain and 'so poorly and frail'.
Rebecca admitted feeling guilty for being the 'lucky one', getting to do the things that Amy couldn't, and said she couldn't understand how the pair had 'shared a womb' but that Amy had had so many trials to contend with (pictured as children) However, the dancer explained they can't try to have a child yet because it would create cancer-feeding hormones in her body. Describing the moment she learned the sad news, she told the Big Fish with Spencer Matthews podcast: 'In the words of "Sorry, Amy, you have cancer", what I found harder was in the next sentence. 'You know, newly married, we'd only been married in July (2022), and this was only in the spring (2023) now.
'And his next sentence was, "And what's your fertility plans because unfortunately you've got a hormone-fed cancer" - and I never knew anything about that - and basically, "We're gonna have to shut down your hormones". 'I'm sat there with my husband, and obviously children were on the radar or, you know, plans. And that I think was like a double stab to the gut, and what I found probably harder than the words "you have cancer".
But Amy continued: 'The NHS offer an incredible service, that once anyone is diagnosed with cancer, and especially if they have to go through chemotherapy, they are offered the chance to have their eggs removed, and put in the freezer. 'Sometimes your body doesn't respond, because you're going through cancer. I had a two-week window.
And in that two week window, we managed. And so we got embryos. Now we've got five little Amy and Bens.
' The dancer added: 'So hopefully in the future. I'll have to wait a little bit of time, unfortunately, because I have got a hormone-fed cancer. Rebecca now works as the lead midwife at a birthing unit, but said that she is sensitive about discussing her job because Amy's cancer battle has meant she is no longer able to have children naturally (Amy pictured in May) Earlier this year, Amy revealed she and her husband Ben created five embryos that were frozen for the future, but can't try to have a child yet because it would create cancer-feeding hormones in her body (pictured together in 2018) Amy is set to talk about her incredibly difficult year in an upcoming BBC documentary airing on Monday night 'You do develop hormones when you're pregnant.
So yeah, obviously, it's not when we plan to, but hopefully, I will get the opportunity to.' Amy is set to talk about her incredibly difficult year in an upcoming BBC documentary airing on Monday night. Amy Dowden: Fight of My Life will also see the star open up about the cruel trolling she faced during her treatment a s she calls on action to clamp down on online trolls.
In an e xclusive clip from seen by MailOnline , she broke down in tears as she discussed having to contend with brutal remarks from naysayers who branded her a 'narcissist' and an 'attention seeker' for publicly documenting her cancer. She told how tough it was to receive such harsh messages, admitting sometimes she 'wished she didn't' publicly open up to fans. Amy is seen looking visibly emotional as she reads aloud some of the messages, as she states: 'There's been so many times sharing my story where I wished I didn't.
' She went on: 'At the time, I already felt like I had everything about me stripped away, my identity...
'And of course I would have done anything in the world to actually be not dancing in my front garden about to shave my head, but to be dancing with my best friends on Strictly. ' Amy Dowden: Fight of My Life will also see the star open up about the cruel trolling she faced during her treatment a s she calls on action to clamp down on online trolls In an exclusive clip from seen by MailOnline, she broke down in tears as she discussed having to contend with brutal remarks from naysayers who branded her a 'narcissist' and an 'attention seeker' for publicly documenting her cancer She added: 'I didn't even know what my outcome was. And for people to be writing messages like that, it already felt hard to even look in the mirror.
' In a filmed clip of herself in the documentary, Amy told the camera: 'For anybody going through cancer, it's enough to be going through it, never mind with any added trolls. There's no textbook on how you should deal with it. 'There's no right or wrong, you do what you need to do.
Be kind guys, if we could be anything, let's be kind!' The dancer is currently preparing for the upcoming series of Strictly after she was forced to take a break from the show last year. Amy has confessed that the thought of losing her job on the BBC dance show was her greatest fear. In clips obtained by The Sun , she revealed: 'When I had to tell Strictly, I was asking "Can I keep my job?" because that was the scariest thing.
'To dance at the highest level, you have to be as fit as an athlete. I was scared about how treatment would affect my body.' Discussing how her treatment wiped her out she added: 'I was gutted.
It completely wiped me out for Strictly. I was heartbroken because I wanted to be on the dance floor.' The dancer is currently preparing for the upcoming series of Strictly after she was forced to take a break from the show last year (pictured on show last year) Amy has confessed that the thought of losing her job on the BBC dance show was her greatest fear, as she revealed how her treatment wiped her out After the news of her return was revealed earlier this month, Amy took to Instagram to share her delight at being back to doing what she loves Amy previously said of the documentary: 'A year ago I was recently married and about to go on honeymoon, it was an exciting new chapter in my life, but finding a lump on my breast changed my life.
'I never thought at my age I would get cancer and, despite having family members and friends who were cancer survivors, had no idea just what the impact on my life would be. 'I’ve learnt so much about myself and what a cancer diagnosis means on this journey. I hope others find hope and strength from this film, and that it encourages everyone to check themselves, no matter what age you are.
' After the news of her return was revealed earlier this month, Amy took to Instagram to share her delight at being back to doing what she loves. The happy news came just two days after she marked the one year anniversary of her first surgery following her diagnosis. 'I'm so happy and grateful to be back on @bbcstrictly MY HEART IS SO HAPPY,' she said.
'The best team on and off the dance floor.' She added: 'I can't wait to be back doing what I love most in the world, dancing! Feel blessed and more excited than EVER. Bring it on! Thank you @bbcstrcitly for your support always.
Eeeeeekkk #amysback.' Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women.
In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called 'invasive'.
Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule. Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare.
Staging indicates how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing.
High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear.
It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed? Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours. Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body.
The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer. If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread.
For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray. How is breast cancer treated? Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.
Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour. Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying.
It is mainly used in addition to surgery. Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying. Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the 'female' hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply.
Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer. How successful is treatment? The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.
The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 71 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage. For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000 Amy Dowden Strictly Come Dancing BBC Share or comment on this article: Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her' e-mail Add comment.
