Shirley Ballas, a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, has described Amy Dowden as “one of the strongest ladies I know.”
The Welsh professional ballroom dancer, who has starred on the BBC programme since 2017, said in May that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32.
Amy discovered a lump in her breast while preparing for her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones, which turned out to be cancer.
Amy had a single mastectomy a month ago and is waiting to hear out if she will require radiation or radiotherapy mixed with chemotherapy to get rid of the cancer.
Amy has received a flood of support since announcing her news publicly, as well as from her Strictly co-stars, including head judge Shirley, 62.
Shirley provided an update on her efforts to assist.
‘I prefer to write letters, so I’ve been writing letters to her and have sent her flowers to cheer her up,’ she said.
‘The whole group has come around Amy.’
Shirley claimed she had’seen Amy at her lowest’ when battling with the symptoms of Crohn’s illness on a previous series the two worked on together.
‘I’ll tell you it’s been low when we’ve been on tour, but that girls smile could light up any room,’ she said.
‘She never feels sorry for herself and just gets on with it and I am sure she is going to do the same [now].
‘She is determined to be back on this [next] series.’
Shirley then added: ‘She is actually one of the strongest women I know.’
Amy talked openly about her desire to return to Strictly shortly after her condition was known.
She explained how she would be able to participate this season if she merely had to take radiation, saying there would be “nothing preventing her.”
‘There’s no pressure but Strictly is leaving the door open. It’s having something to work towards.’
She went on to say that she was ‘visualising’ herself back on the dancefloor and was looking forward to the ‘live crowd, adrenalin, and atmosphere’.
Strictly Come Dancing is streaming on BBC iPlayer.