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Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- 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
18-07-2025
- 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."
Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
How the Grand River is inspiring kids to read more books
An ambitious challenge has youngsters from two schools on Six Nations of the Grand River racing to read 280 kilometres worth of books. The read-a-thon was hatched by the YMCA of Hamilton Burlington Brantford as part of its Beyond the Bell program, which provides after-school learning enrichment to students in priority areas. One example is this 'playful competition,' which aims to get the students interested in reading and working as a team, area supervisor Patrick Pfeiffer said. It pits I.L. Thomas Elementary School and Emily C. General Elementary School — both with the Six Nations School District — against each other to see who can read the length of the Grand River first. No small feat, considering the waterway flows from the Dufferin County highlands down through Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge and Six Nations, emptying into Lake Erie. A book represents four kilometres, meaning each cohort has to collectively read 70 books to cover the entire river. The program has used similar challenges in the past, but Pfeiffer thought attaching it to a meaningful part of local history and culture could make it more engaging. But while this all takes place after class, Pfeiffer is clear Beyond the Bell is separate from the organization's after-school child-care programs. For starters, it's donor funded and free of charge for participants, who are as young as Grade 1 and can continue year after year until Grade 5. Schools identify students who could benefit, and co-ordinators collaborate with the board, principals and teachers 'to mould our program to what they need,' Pfeiffer said. Some schools use it to amp up academic success. Others want to improve social skills and development 'and we work directly with the school to identify those things and modify our program as much as we can,' he said. During the read-a-thon, participants just might fall in love with their next favourite graphic novel, picture book or series. And the prize for the winning school — a movie day with popcorn — is a bonus. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
