Latest news with #AmyDowden
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Strictly's Amy Dowden reveals why she refuses to look at the rumoured line-up as she insists she's 'stronger than ever' ahead of returning to the show after cancer battle
Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden says she had the 'hardest time' after ringing the chemotherapy bell when she completed her cancer treatment. The professional dancer Now in remission, Amy is hoping to raise awareness of the importance of checking in with people even after they have got the all-clear from cancer. 'I was so lucky with my friends and family; they rallied around us, but there's so many people who told me they didn't hear from anybody after they rang their bell - they thought they were fine. 'But little do they know, that's the hardest time, because that's when you've had all your chemo, that's when you're really struggling to walk up the stairs and really feeling the impact of a cancer treatment and diagnosis. 'I think it's important that people just having a better understanding.' has revealed why she refuses to look at the show's rumoured line-up. The BBC show is set to return to screens in September, with a plethora of celebrities tipped to take part including Dani Dyer, Stacey Solomon and Vicky Pattison. However, while excitement builds about the line-up, dancer Amy, 34, told in an exclusive interview with the MailOnline how she purposely avoids the speculation as she prefers her partner to be a 'lovely surprise'. Meanwhile, the Welsh beauty told how she's 'stronger than ever' as she gears up to join her fellow professional dancers for the new series following her battle with breast cancer. Speaking of the rumoured cast for the 2025 show, Amy shared: 'I haven't seen [the rumoured line-up], and I don't look at it. Normally, none of them are normally on the show anyway. 'We don't get told anything, and I'm glad we don't because I want a lovely surprise.' Amy went on to say that she'd recently been filming Celebrity Hunted alongside fellow pro Carlos Gu, so had not 'seen anything' anyway. She added: 'Me being genuinely honest, I don't tend to not look anyway, because most of the time it is not true.' Meanwhile, Amy insisted that she's feeling 'fitter and stronger than ever right now' in light of both her ongoing recovery from cancer as well as her injury last year which forced her to quit that series. The star was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of just 32 in 2023 and made the decision early on to openly share her journey in the hope that it would help other people. When asked how she knew the lump she discovered the day before her honeymoon was different, she admitted that the key to her early, lifesaving diagnosis was getting to know her breasts ahead of time. She said: 'It was a real solid lump for a start, and it wasn't on the other breast.' The dancer, who was forced to pull out of last year's Strictly because of a foot injury, stressed: 'If there is something that you are not sure about, go to the GP. Get a check-up. 'It doesn't matter how big or small it might feel - don't think of being a nuisance. It's why we have the healthcare system we have in place.' Meanwhile, the Welsh beauty told how she's 'stronger than ever' as she gears up to join her fellow professional dancers for the new series following her battle with breast cancer While Amy was thankfully given the all-clear last year after an operation and chemotherapy, she is now speaking out about the 'longest' part of her cancer journey - her recovery While Amy was thankfully told she had 'no evidence of cancer' last year after surgery and chemotherapy, she is now speaking out about the 'longest' part of her journey - her recovery. Generally speaking, those who have had breast cancer are at the greatest risk of recurrence in the first five years. The star said: 'I was very deluded - I literally thought I would be ringing the bell and my life would come back. 'I didn't anticipate or realise the journey ahead of recovery and how long it was going to take, both physically and mentally, and I wish I had more preparation for that.' Speaking in collaboration with Keep Ahead, a campaign to raise awareness of the aftermath of cancer initiated by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, Amy said that while she still has a challenging number of years ahead of her, she is getting through the uncertainty by doing what she loves, dancing. She said: 'Especially this year, just throwing myself into that - taking dance lessons, being on theatre tours, and being able to now do what I love most and what makes me happy is what has got me through some tough times.' The star was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of just 32 in 2023 and made the decision early on to openly share her journey in the hope that it would help other people Amy was speaking at the launch of Keep Ahead - a campaign initiated and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK. It aims to raise awareness of the life after cancer, risk and fear of recurrence, and empower people living with breast cancer to take an active role in decision making about their treatment and care journey.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amy Dowden opens up about the ‘guilt' of feeling ‘angry and bitter' after ringing bell to end cancer treatment
Amy Dowden has opened up about the 'guilt' of feeling 'angry and bitter' after ringing the bell which signalled the end of her cancer treatment, during a speech at an awareness launch. Instead of feeling 'happy and celebrating' like she'd presumed she would, Amy said that 'deep inside I felt angry and bitter.' The Strictly star was speaking at an event to launch the Keep Ahead disease awareness campaign. It 'aims to raise awareness of the life after breast cancer' or 'beyond the bell', according to a release from Novartis, who are behind the initiative. 'I was a bit naïve and in denial as, once I rang the bell, I honestly thought that that's it,' Amy explained. 'I had my life back, but I didn't really anticipate or understand that I had a very long journey of recovery, both physically and mentally to get back to where I was before.' While Amy was going through her treatment, she said she felt like she was working towards a solution, a purpose which, when it ended, she no longer had: 'You're actively doing something. Then all of a sudden, you face a reality of trying to rebuild a new version of you.' Instead, when her treatment finished, Amy said she found herself at an 'all time low' and 'was very emotional. I was scared, petrified and thought 'what if I haven't done enough.' She admitted she experienced 'guilt' for feeling that way. The physical consequences of Amy's treatment and cancer journey meant a long road to recovery. 'I'd had blood clots. I'd had sepsis. I'd broken a bone during chemo," Amy revealed. 'My stamina levels were the lowest they've ever been in my life [and] having to start again - that journey to the dance floor - felt like a million miles away.' However, where Amy is today is a far cry from those first few weeks, following a UK dance tour this year with fellow Strictly star Carlos Gu and filming as a contestant on Celebrity Hunted. 'I took time to really work on myself and to process everything to really get as fit as I possibly could for the gym, physio and dancing,' Amy said. 'I feel like Amy's back, but actually a newer, stronger version of me and I'm really grateful to be in this position. It's been a long road of recovery.' You Might Also Like The anti-ageing wonder ingredient you're missing in your skincare routine 15 dresses perfect for a summer wedding 6 items our fashion team always take on a beach holiday
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Amy Dowden admits she was 'deluded' to think she was ready for Strictly comeback
EXCLUSIVE: Amy Dowden talks about returning to Strictly, menopause, IVF and marriage to Ben as she discusses life after chemotherapy and finding her new normal When she rang the bell to mark the end of her breast cancer treatment, Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden thought her nightmare would end. Instead she found herself at an 'all time low' as she came to terms with her new reality - she was bald, menopausal and too weak to dance. Amy told The Mirror: 'I thought my life was going to get back to normal. I was deluded. I honestly thought that I'd be back dancing on Strictly in no time and that my hair was going to grow back far quicker than it did. I thought that I'd be back to the old Amy, and it hit me really hard. I was scared and petrified. It was a very daunting, difficult time as well as being put into menopause.' Amy had been diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, less than a year after marrying her husband Benjamin Jones. She was 32 and preparing for a new series of Strictly. Almost immediately, she had a mastectomy, followed by IVF two weeks later to try and preserve her chances of having a family. Amy said: 'I started IVF treatment two weeks after the mastectomy. I was still recovering from surgery and then that was another journey. And then two weeks after I started chemo.' After eight rounds of chemotherapy, Amy completed her treatment and rang the bell. Sadly it didn't herald an instant change in fortune and just a few days later Amy broke her foot, compounding her fears she'd never dance again. Amy said: 'A few days later I broke my foot. I felt more of a cancer patient than ever. I felt isolated and lonely. And I didn't know what my life ahead was going to be.' Menopause is a notoriously difficult time for any woman, but coming after chemotherapy, it left Amy exhausted, emotional and suffering debilitating hot flushes. She said: 'When I finished treatment, I actually hit an all time low. I went from this super fit young lady used to the spotlight and hair and make up to not liking to look in the mirror. But also there was a voice in my head saying, 'Cancer can't take away your dancing.'' Amy has always dreamed of being a mother and thanks to the IVF wedged in between her mastectomy and chemotherapy, she has five frozen embryos that could hold the key to her future happiness. However, doctors have warned Amy that even though she's cancer free, she cannot yet risk undergoing IVF as the hormones she would have to take could raise her risk of the cancer returning. Amy said: 'I always wanted the honour of being a mother. My oncologist said he won't speak to me about it yet. It's too soon. We were lucky enough to get five embryos, but right now, it's still too soon. I only finished active treatment just over a year ago. My body has just got to recover first, hopefully.' Amy is sharing her recovery story after making a short film called Beyond the Bell, which is part of the Keep Ahead campaign from Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, to shed light on life post-breast cancer. While ringing the bell might appear as a moment of joy for people outside of cancer treatment, Amy wants to prepare people going through treatment for the reality. Last year (2024), Amy triumphantly re-joined Strictly Come Dancing and was partnered with singer JB Gill. However, she was forced to withdraw in November with a stress fracture, and was replaced by Lauren Oakley, who made it to the finals with JB. In hindsight, Amy realises her return to Strictly was too soon for her physically - though she believes dancing on the show was vital to her mental and emotional recovery. Amy said: 'I went back to Strictly far too early last year because I just wanted to get what I thought was my normal back. I needed it mentally to go back, otherwise I don't think I would have ever gone back. I needed that normality. I couldn't have watched another series from the sofa. It was killing me. Physically I wasn't ready, but I thought I was. The BBC put so much in place to ease me back in gradually and I'm so grateful for them and they constantly had my best interests at heart.' With the 2025 series of Strictly looming, Amy believes she's fitter than ever and is grateful that her body has adjusted to the menopause. She said: 'I still get the occasional hot flush. This time last year it was really tough but now I really feel my body's adjusted to it.' Amy and Ben have just celebrated their third wedding anniversary and despite the traumatic start to their marriage, their love is deeper than ever before. Amy said: 'We're even closer than ever now, especially this past year getting our life back together, enjoying holidays and doing our house renovation. My husband said to me earlier this year, 'I love my life and I'm really happy.' It makes you realise how precious life and your loved ones are after a cancer diagnosis. We just enjoy every little bit of time we get together.' Part of Amy's new normal is saying 'no' more often and prioritising her recovery. She said: 'I would always work myself into the ground. I wouldn't take a day off. I'd run Dance Academy, I'd be saying yes to absolutely everything and I've learned that now, actually, I need time off to recover. I need a day off or I need to go and see my family. That's what I learnt most about cancer - life is precious.' Another unexpected side effect of cancer is that Amy has lost close friends who never reached out to her after her diagnosis, leaving her hurt and confused. Amy said: 'There were people sat at my wedding six months before and I still haven't heard from them today. Everyone deals with it differently, but it's still very tough. So much has changed for me.' However, cancer has brought new people into her life and her true friendships and relationships have strengthened. Amy said: 'I learned who my true friends and family were and I only surround myself with them, that's the new normal for me.' Amy has shared her early breast cancer journey from the beginning, hoping her story helps others who are also affected by the disease. She said: 'If a lady's diagnosed with cancer she can say it, 'Well, Amy got back on the dance floor or she can say to her little girl, 'Look, Mum's got what Amy's got and she's back on Strictly, she's got a smile on her face.'' While her recovery has been gruelling, Amy believes that she's now fitter than she's ever been. She said: 'Everyone is different but actually I feel stronger and fitter than I did now before my cancer treatment. I've done that hard work in the gym and I've really loved seeing the differences made and doing one up on cancer.' So it's with an unflinching smile that Amy heads into this year's Strictly. While she dreams of being victorious and lifting the glitterball trophy with her celebrity partner, Amy admits just completing the competition would mean the world to her. She said: 'Watching your celebrity fall in love with dancing, that for me is a win. It would just be wonderful to be able to complete the whole Strictly series. I just can't wait to just soak myself in all the Strictly magic.'
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Strictly's Amy Dowden put 'so much pressure on herself' to return post-treatment
Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden had to withdraw from the show last year after suffering a foot injury, but says she's ready to return to the dance floor as a stronger version of herself. Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden said she hit an "all time low" after finishing cancer treatment – but is now a "newer, stronger" version of herself and is ready to return to the show. The 34 year old professional dancer made her comeback to the BBC programme last year following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2023. However, halfway through the series, Amy, who was paired with JLS singer JB Gill, was forced to pull out after sustaining a foot injury. This prompted the Welsh performer to reflect on her progress, and how she should have been kinder to herself in her recovery. "I feel like Amy's back, but actually a newer, stronger version of me," she said. "I'm really grateful to be in this position. It's been a long road of recovery." Amy, who endured a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and was placed into a treatment-induced menopause by medics as part of her care said she was 'a bit naïve' after ringing the bell - a tradition amongst cancer patients once they complete treatment. "I honestly thought that that's it, I had my life back." What she didn't anticipate was the long road to recovery which would follow, to get back to where she was before, both physically and mentally. Speaking at the launch of the Keep Ahead awareness campaign, she opened up about how it took a toll emotionally. The campaign, spearheaded and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, is designed to shed light on life after breast cancer. For many who haven't been through it, ringing the bell might seem like a moment of pure joy, but Amy reveals that this isn't always the case. In the weeks following her bell-ringing, Amy confessed she hit an "all time low". "I was very emotional; I was scared, petrified and thought 'what if I haven't done enough." She admitted she experienced feelings of 'guilt' over these emotions: "I felt why am I feeling like this when I should be happy and celebrating when deep inside I felt angry and bitter." She highlighted the extensive road to recovery; regaining stamina, rebuilding confidence – particularly in her line of work. Moreover, she had to come to terms with what she had been through. "After I rang the bell, I thought I was done, but I was deluded... The road to recovery was pretty grim to be honest with you and my stamina levels were the lowest they've ever been in my life. Having to start that journey to the dance floor felt like a million miles away." She continued: "After the last chemo, I don't want to say I felt worse, but you know, yeah it did, because you feel like you're doing something during it [cancer treatment]. Then all of a sudden, you face the reality of trying to rebuild a new version of you." However, the dancer has since battled her way back to health and is now determined to live life to the fullest. She has just wrapped up filming for the new series of Celebrity Hunted, and completed her UK dance tour earlier this year with fellow Strictly star Carlos Gu. She's also been making sure to spend quality time with loved ones and prioritise rest. "I've learned to take time to rest, recover and spend time with my loved ones." On Celebrity Hunted, Amy had to go "off-grid" and refrain from using electronic devices including her phone – a digital detox she plans to incorporate more into her life to be more present with her husband Ben. Amy said: "I was always on my phone and I've learned that you don't need to be contactable 24/7, and to put the phone away and appreciate what's in front of you. I'm not going to just scroll through social media and watch what everyone else is doing." This relaxation and recovery has led to a happier Amy and now she believes she can return to Strictly even stronger. She said: "Last year, I put so much pressure on myself. I've taken that pressure away from me now and I can't wait to just enjoy it."
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Strictly's Amy Dowden says she thinks about her breast cancer coming back 'most days'
Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has opened up to Lorraine Kelly about her 'really tough' journey after finishing treatment for stage three breast cancer Strictly Come Dancing favourite Amy Dowden received the heart-wrenching diagnosis of stage three breast cancer back in 2023. Following a mastectomy and chemotherapy, the cherished BBC personality was informed last year that her body showed no evidence of the disease, with her later sharing the news with fans. However, the talented professional dancer shared with her Instagram fans at the time that she has to wait five more years before receiving the definitive 'all-clear on the cancer'. Now, she has candidly revealed she thinks about her cancer returning 'most of the time'. This week, the Strictly sensation disclosed her involvement in the Beyond the Bell film, a collaborative effort with NovartisUK. The Keep Ahead campaign delves into the emotional rollercoaster experienced after active breast cancer treatment. Amy took to Instagram to share the film, penning a heartbreaking confession: "Like many people living with breast cancer, my journey hasn't been straightforward. "Even after I rang the end of treatment bell, the fear of my cancer coming back meant that I couldn't fully celebrate. "Breast cancer recurrence is on my mind most days, and I am still learning how to navigate these feelings and everything about life after my diagnosis – taking it one day at a time. "The film explores the highs and lows of life after active breast cancer the fear of recurrence once held me back. How I've found the strength to take back control. How I keep moving forward one day at a time." Meanwhile, during her appearance on Friday's episode of Lorraine, the 34-year-old dancer spoke candidly about the challenges following the celebratory bell-ringing, which marks the conclusion of cancer treatment. She revealed: "After I rang the bell, came the longest journey of recovery, and I think people think you're fine afterwards. But you're really not.", reports Wales Online. "I still have to take medication, I still have to go back to the oncology unit once a month for an injection for at least five years. I've been put into menopause, I don't know what my options are going to look like, if I'm going to be able to carry my own children." Amy admitted to ITV viewers that life post-treatment is 'very tough', but she also expressed that she feels stronger than ever, now 18 months on. She continued: "I would just like to say to anybody, don't compare yourself to others. I think I forgot to be kind to myself afterwards, and I really struggled last year. "I don't think I really processed what happened, and I think there are so many people around you when you're having your treatment, then all of a sudden you're on your own straight afterwards."
