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Amy Dowden gave an update on her ‘tough’ cancer battle as she appeared on It Takes Two on Wednesday. 

The professional dancer. 33. was diagnosed with breast cancer in May and underwent a mastectomy in June before doctors discovered she was also battling another form of cancer and would need further treatment.

Speaking to Janette Manrara, Amy said: ‘Chemo again tomorrow, session six. I am over half way and I can see the finish line.

‘But I’m not going to lie, it is tough but I am feeling strong and positive. I just want to raise as much awareness as I possibly can and get everyone to check their chest.’

Amy, who has been forced to miss this year’s series, delighted viewers when she made a surprise appearance on last Saturday’s show and embraced her hair loss by showing off her newly shaved head.  

Brave: Amy Dowden gave an update on her ‘tough’ cancer battle as she appeared on It Takes Two on Wednesday

Braving the bald: Amy, who has been forced to miss this year’s series, delighted viewers when she made a surprise appearance on last Saturday’s show and embraced her hair loss

The professional dancer, who sported a beautiful brown wig for her It Takes Two appearance, said: ‘My wig wasn’t ready for the dress run so Diane was going on at me all day saying “You look so beautiful without it”. 

‘I went out and did the dress run and the Strictly family treated me no differently without. 

‘They gave me so much love and support and I spoke to production, and the hair and make up girls were saying “Don’t wear the wig”.

‘I felt really liberated and I didn’t tell anyone. I was nervous but it didn’t matter if I had my wig or not.’

Of her decision to show off her shaved head on the live show, Amy added: ‘I want to use my platform to to help give others the courage and strength they need.

I found losing my hair really traumatic and it didn’t matter how much I prepared for it, I couldn’t even brush my own hair in the end I couldn’t even look in the mirror in the end because I was bald on top.

‘I told my family “I’m shaving it tomorrow”. We all did it together, my friends and family got together, we tried to make it as fun as possible. They inspired me and I want to use my platform to help others give others the courage and strength they need.’

Amy praised the show’s bosses, her fellow dancers and fans for giving her strength, as she said: ‘They have all inspired me.’

Update: The professional dancer, who sported a beautiful brown wig for her It Takes Two appearance, said ‘it is tough but I am feeling strong and positive’

Strong: Amy told Janette she was set to have her sixth session on chemotherapy on Thursday 

Strictly family: Janette told her: ‘Fans and viewers are showing so much love and support’

‘Everyone has been amazing, dancers, hair and make up, everyone but I have to give a special shout out to the execs (executives) who have been there since my diagnosis in spring.

‘We have cried happy tears, sad tears. Having them and getting involved in the show has meant everything to me. 

‘On those difficult days has helped me push through.’ 

Amy singled out Dianne Buswell, who is partnered with EastEnders star Bobby Brazier, and Katya Jones, teamed up with Nigel Harman for their constant support. 

Amy said of Diane: ‘There’s not a day goes by when she doesn’t message me and send videos of her and Bobby.

‘Katya and Nigel facetiming me on chemo days, I am forever grateful.’

Janette told her: ‘Fans and viewers are showing so much love and support.’

Amy replied: ‘Strictly has the world’s best fans and gosh have I felt it – the love the support always comes on days I have really needed it and I will never ever be able to thank them enough.’

Tough time: Amy thanked her fellow dancers for their unwavering support. She singled out Dianne Buswell (pictured) 

Inspiration: The professional dancer, 33, returned to the show to support her co-stars in her her first TV appearance since shaving her head

‘So lovely to see the beautiful Amy Dowden’: Viewers took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to say they were thrilled to see her on It Takes Two

Viewers took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to say they were thrilled to see her on It Takes Two. 

One wrote: ‘Seeing @dowden_amy on @bbcstrictly #ittakestwo makes my heart sing. Looking absolutely fabulous & as Craig would say Goooooorgous Darling. Hoping Chemo tomorrow goes well. Thinking of you, thank you for sharing your journey & being such an inspiration. Big Hugs.’

‘Loved seeing Amy on It Takes Two’. 

‘seeing amy on it takes two was so inspirational and powerful for so many people !! she’s incredibly gorgeous and has such a heart of gold, missing her on the dance floor endlessly’ another viewer added. 

‘So lovely to see the beautiful, amazing @dowden_amy on #ittakestwo tonight!!!! I hope she knows how loved she is by the strictly fans and family.’ 

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?

What is breast cancer?

It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.

When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called ‘invasive’. Some people are diagnosed with ‘carcinoma in situ’, where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.

Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare.

Staging indicates how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.

The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.

What causes breast cancer?

A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply ‘out of control’.

Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. 

The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.

How is breast cancer diagnosed?

Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours.
Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.

If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray.

How is breast cancer treated?

Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.

Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour.
Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying.
Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the ‘female’ hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer.

How successful is treatment?

The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.

The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000

Source

Content source – www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com

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