Amy Dowden believes she was ‘deluded’ to believe she would be OK after completing chemotherapy.
In May, the 33-year-old Strictly Come Dancing pro was diagnosed with breast cancer.
In November, she was able to ring the cancer bell, which cancer patients frequently do to mark the end of the intrusive treatment. She told fans at the time that she felt’relief like no other,’ but she has now acknowledged that things are much more tough for her.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, she said: ‘I’m okay, taking every day as it comes but I think I was a bit deluded when I ran the chemo bell.’
‘I find it mentally tougher now because I was seeing a doctor every other week, I had a routine. And I honestly thought that once I’d rung the bell I was going to be fine but actually I’ve broken my foot, I’ve had a blood clot on my lung.’
She continued: ‘You’ve got to recover from chemo, I had eight tough rounds of it.
‘Others think I’m fine now but no, the journey is not over.’
Amy has had to take time away from her usual work on the BBC Latin and Ballroom show in order to finish treatment. She previously competed in the finals alongside Brian Conley, Tom Fletcher, and Karim Zeroual.
Despite appearing on the 2023 season on a regular basis in Claudia Winkleman’s section, called the ‘Claudatorium’ by viewers at home, she misses being on the dance floor.
She was planned to perform in the finale until she broke her foot.
Recalling how the injury occurred, Amy said: ‘Chemo causes neuropathy so you lose the feeling in your hands and your feet and I just think I didn’t have my foot completely on the ground. I cried so much, I just wanted to be back dancing.’
Amy is currently wearing a medical boot until at least January, so she is understandably looking forward to the end of 2023.
‘I’m so looking forward to 2024 because this has been such a difficult year. I was told that I had cancer and then asked what my fertility plans were, it was like a stab to the gut.’
She already has huge plans, including another CoppaFeel! tour with close friend Giovanna Fletcher, who was also on Lorraine. Amy credits her participation in the series with helping her identify the lump early, shortly before her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones, because she had previously not checked her breasts.
Strictly fans may still expect to see Amy on the programme, as she hinted a special surprise from her on the upcoming Saturday episode, as she got emotional while working on the preparation for the yet-to-be-disclosed appearance.
‘I was [at Strictly] on Monday and I just burst into tears because I have had what I love most taken away from me,’ she shared.
Lorraine complemented Amy on her beauty, but she said that she misses her hair after previously asking fans for regrowth suggestions.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV1. Strictly Come Dancing finale airs Saturday from 7pm on BBC1.