Amy Dowden reveals most cancers has ‘modified her endlessly’

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Published: 01:13, 28 August 2024 | Updated: 01:35, 28 August 2024

Amy Dowden has revealed that cancer has ‘changed her forever’, noting that she’ll never take ‘anything for granted’ again after fearing she’ll ‘not make it to Christmas‘.

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 34, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023 and in what became the toughest year of her life, Amy underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatment and also almost died of sepsis.

And in a new interview, Amy told how she’s taking a positive outlook on life after coming through the other side, admitting she’s no longer ‘angry’ at the disease.

Speaking to Prima magazine on how her cancer experience has shaped her, Amy defiantly explained: ‘Cancer has changed me forever. I’ll never take anyone or anything for granted, and I know my own self-worth now. You could maybe have walked over me in the past, but now I know my strength.’

The dancer had found a lump in her breast the day before heading on honeymoon in May last year and after undergoing treatment, she was given the all clear this year.

Amy Dowden has revealed that cancer has ‘changed her forever’, noting that she’ll never take ‘anything for granted’ again after fearing she’ll ‘not make it to Christmas ‘

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 34, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023 and in what became the toughest year of her life, Amy underwent a mastectomy , chemotherapy, fertility treatment and also almost died of sepsis

But while she’s over the worst, the Welsh beauty candidly admitted that there were times that she didn’t think she’d make it through the illness as negative thoughts engulfed her.

Recalling the dark times she endured, Amy explained: ‘I would lay awake for hours, thinking, “Am I going to make it to Christmas? Am I going to dance again?” I don’t go to bed worrying now.’

Amy positively told how she’s moved on from those thoughts now and that her cancer experience had even helped her to not stress about her Crohn’s as it had to ‘take a backseat’ over cancer.

The star is now looking forward to the future and can’t wait to get back on the Strictly dancefloor later this year.

On coming through the other side, she said: ‘I’ve come through the other side, and I can’t be angry any more. I can’t change what’s happened, I can only move on. I have the rest of my life ahead of me and I can’t give it any more time than it has already taken.’

Amy has also written a book Dancing In The Rain, about her experience, with the blonde beauty recalling how the process of writing her book was so important during her healing process as it gave her ‘purpose’.

She said: ‘When you suffer from a chronic illness or cancer, there’s a weird sense that the world is spinning without you. Your normality is taken away and you lose a sense of purpose. I’m usually such a busy bee, but I was waking up every day and not doing what I love, so the book gave me purpose in what was a very lonely dark time.’

It comes as Amy fans were left ‘sobbing’ and branded her an ‘inspiration’ on Monday night as she bravely opened up about her breast cancer journey in her heartbreaking BBC documentary, Cancer and Me.

in a new interview, Amy told how she’s taking a positive outlook on life after coming through the other side, admitting she’s no longer ‘angry’ at the disease

‘Cancer has changed me forever. I’ll never take anyone or anything for granted, and I know my own self-worth now. You could maybe have walked over me in the past, but now I know my strength’

While she’s over the worst, the Welsh beauty candidly admitted that there were times that she didn’t think she’d make it through the illness as negative thoughts engulfed her

Amy positively told how she’s moved on from those thoughts now and that her cancer experience had even helped her to not stress about her Crohn’s as it had to ‘take a backseat’ over cancer

Amy decided to let the cameras in to document her journey, with the film following Amy through several stages of her fight with the disease.

Read the full interview in Prima’s October issue, on sale Wednesday 28th August

The film saw several heart-wrenching moments, including Amy facing her first chemotherapy session, the agonising wait for results and the TV star shaving her head as she tackled her hair loss.

Watching the scenes unfold, several viewers rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their admiration for the Welsh dancer, with several noting they were in tears as they watched her health struggle.

They penned: ‘Tough watch, but what an inspiration.’

‘Oh my dear Lord, #AmyDowden is such an inspiration, Bless her heart. Am sobbing Xx.’

‘Sat here watching Strictly Amy : cancer and me, and I’m crying. Love you, Amy.’

I’ve come through the other side, and I can’t be angry any more. I can’t change what’s happened, I can only move on. I have the rest of my life ahead of me and I can’t give it any more time than it has already taken.’

Amy fans were left ‘sobbing’ and branded her an ‘inspiration’ on Monday night as she bravely opened up about her breast cancer journey in her heartbreaking BBC documentary, Cancer and Me

Amy decided to let the cameras in to document her journey, with the film following Amy through several stages of her fight with the disease

The film saw several heart-wrenching moments, including Amy facing her first chemotherapy session, the agonising wait for results and the TV star shaving her head as she tackled her hair loss

‘This Amy Dowden story is a tough watch. Gulp. What an incredibly strong & brave woman.’

‘Oh my lord #AmyDowden is such an inspiration! I’ve spent the first 14 mins of this program sobbing, yet she’s incredibly strong!’

In one particularly emotional moment, the dancer breaks down in tears as she’s fitted with a cold cap ahead of her first chemotherapy session.

The star struggles to fight back tears as her mother and the nurses comfort her, with Amy sobbing that she ‘doesn’t want to do this’.

Other scenes in the documentary sees the Welsh beauty shaving her head before dancing in the garden, surrounded by love and support from her loved ones.

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 reveals most cancers has ‘modified her endlessly’

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