Professional Amy Dowden ‘on a mission’ to raise breast cancer awarenesspublished at 20:21 BST
20:21 BST
Miriam Baker
BBC Wales
Image caption,
Amy Dowden is partnering with Thomas Skinner this year
Professional dancer Amy Dowden says she put “so much strain” on herself to recover and return to work after her cancer diagnosis.
She returned to the Strictly line-up in 2024, but was forced to withdraw from the show after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in her foot.
She is now back in full health and partnering Thomas Skinner.
She was just 32 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer May 2023, after finding a lump in her breast the day before her honeymoon.
She made history as Strictly Come Dancing’s first Welsh professional dancer in 2017, and has been candid about her experiences of the disease, including having a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and fertility treatment.
Speaking ahead of the 2025 series, she said her diagnosis left her fearing she would never dance again, adding that she told her breast surgeon that she became “fixated” with returning to dancing during the height of her illness.
As she looks forward to getting back on the Strictly ballroom dance floor, she said she remained “on a mission to raise awareness” about breast cancer.
Despite her “life changing forever”, Dowden said she felt stronger than ever.
Image source, BBC/Guy LevyImage caption,
Amy was partnered with JLS star JB Gill last series