After facing one of the toughest years of her life, Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has spoken candidly about her battle with breast cancer — and the painful lesson she learned after pushing herself too soon.
The 34-year-old dancer, who was diagnosed with grade III breast cancer in 2023, underwent a grueling round of chemotherapy and a mastectomy. Determined to return to the BBC ballroom, she made her comeback in 2024, partnering with JLS star JB Gill.
But just days after the Halloween week performance, Amy collapsed backstage. Speaking on The Dr Hilary Show podcast, she admitted: “I probably rushed too soon to get back on the dance floor. My body hadn’t fully recovered. I thought I was ready — but chemo changes you in ways you don’t realise.”
She revealed that she broke her foot only three days after finishing chemotherapy, and later suffered a hairline fracture during the show. Scans also revealed a “white mass” on her bone. “It was my body screaming, ‘This is too much,’” Amy said.
Unable to continue, she was replaced by fellow dancer Lauren Oakley, who helped JB reach the show’s final. “It broke my heart,” Amy confessed. “I was so proud of them, but I couldn’t stop thinking — that could have been me.”
Reflecting on her ordeal, Amy admitted she has always been the type to push through pain. “I’ve learnt the hard way not to overdo it. Now I try to celebrate every small win,” she said.
Amy also recalled the moment she found the lump that changed her life — the day before her honeymoon. “My heart sank immediately,” she shared. “I still went on the honeymoon, but every time I applied sunscreen, it felt like it was growing.”
At first, she blamed her fatigue and ill health on Crohn’s disease, which she has battled since childhood. “Looking back, all the signs were there — the exhaustion, the cough, everything,” she said.
An emergency GP referral led to surgery, followed by chemotherapy. Today, Amy is cautiously optimistic: “Touch wood, there’s no evidence of disease. I’ve had some scares and more biopsies, but I’m in very good hands. There’s breast cancer in my family, so I know big decisions lie ahead — but for now, I’m just grateful.”
