Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has offered an update on how she is doing as she undergoes treatment for cancer. The dancer shared that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in an emotional interview in May.
Amy, 32, told fans that she had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer after discovering a lump. The Welsh star, who has appeared on the BBC's hit dance show since 2017, first discovered a lump in her right breast in April, the day before she and her husband Ben Jones flew to the Maldives for their belated honeymoon.
It wasn't until after her holiday that the Welsh star went to the doctors where she was quickly referred and told the news. Last month, Amy underwent surgery to remove her right breast a She had "more than on tumour" and has since confirmed that she was also able to have reconstruction surgery at the same time.
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And on Tuesday, the Caerphilly-born dancer and TV star shared a very candid update, offering fans a glimpse inside her health battle. Taking part in an impromptu Instagram Q&A session during a car journey, one fan kindly asked: "How are you?"
In response, Amy shared an upbeat selfie along with a detailed message which read: "I'm up and down, but so grateful for those around me. I'll never ever be able to thank enough. Still waiting to be able to drive and dance (next week [praying hands emoji])."
She continued: "I've got so many amazing people around me who everyday when I've not been working have [taken] me for breakfast, a walk, to the studio, hospital apts, had me stay at theirs for a change of scenery… You name it.
"As I'm someone who needs to keep going and those people know who they are and I'm not sure I'd be as positive as I am now without them. They have been my recovery medicine and it's so important to have people around you can talk to and help you escape reality."
Amy was also asked how she is coping mentally and again praised those around her for keeping her going, saying people have been checking in with her every or every other day. "And I'm somebody who wants to be on the go all the time and I've always said been with my cancer diagnosis my life's not going to stop. I don't want it to stop.
"I need to keep going. I need to stay focused. I need to be positive and yeah, I've just been surrounded by people who have kept me busy. Yeah, so just very, very, very, very lucky. [I] have the best family and friends."
