4 days ago
Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden gives huge cancer update - and reveals the life-changing impact of treatment still hanging over her
Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden has given a huge cancer update and revealed the life-changing impact of her treatment.
Friday's instalment of Lorraine saw dancer Amy Dowden and award-winning entrepreneur Leanne Pero discuss their cancer journeys with host Lorraine Kelly.
Amy was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2023 and in what became the toughest year of her life, Amy underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatment and also almost died of sepsis.
While at the end of 2016, Leanne was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and was able to beat the disease in 2017 after undergoing chemotherapy and a mastectomy.
Amy opened up about her struggles since undergoing treatment and said: '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.'
She went on to describe the treatment she continues to go through and added: 'So 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 5 years, I've been put into menopause, I don't know what my options are going to look like still if I'm going to be able to carry my own children.
Amy was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2023 and in what became the toughest year of her life, Amy underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatment and also almost died of sepsis
'I think life beyond the bell is very tough but what I would say is, 18 months later now, I am feeling stronger than ever.'
'You look fantastic,' Lorraine commented.
'I would just like to say to anybody, don't compare yourself to others, I forgot to be kind to myself afterwards and I really struggled last year, I don't think I really processed what happened,' Amy added.
'There's so many people around you when you're having your treatment and then all of a sudden, you're on your own afterwards.'
Leanne, who has just celebrated eight years in remission, shared how she could relate to Amy.
She said: 'I still get asked all the time, are you the same person? And it's like no, you're never the same person ever again.
'I remember after being given the all clear, I had so may people go right you've got your life back, that's it, it's all over.
'I remember that was the worst part of the journey was actually finishing treatment, because as Amy said, the doctors, the nurses, your healthcare team go away and you're sort of left and it's like actually where's your new normal, who am I now and that is where I really struggled.
'It's almost like you have to rebuild yourself from scratch again.'
Amy went on to reflect on a scare she experienced last year with a biopsy.
She said: 'That was awful, I'm not five years yet so mine is almost no evidence of disease instead of all clear for me.
'Last year when I went for my scans and they wanted more biopsies and they found a change in my breast, it was awful and I literally only found out seven days before starting Strictly.
'I couldn't even really look forward to Strictly, it's horrible but every ache or pain you're in fear of it returning because you just don't want to go through it all again, and you're worried for your loved ones, but there's a new normality, you're never the same after a cancer diagnosis but what I say you're stronger.'
Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 from 9am and is available to stream on ITVX.
