Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden discovered she had cancer last month and has now updated fans on her latest operation.
The 32-year-old discovered a lump in her breast only one day before her honeymoon in the Maldives with her new husband Ben Jones and went to see a doctor when she returned.
Amy, who has competed on the BBC dance show since 2017 and has worked with celebs such as Tom Fletcher and James Bye, had a single mastectomy one week ago to treat grade three cancer.
Amy is resting at home after the surgeons removed two tumours, three cancer “specks,” and several lymph nodes from her right breast.
She is now unable to move her right arm and requires assistance in getting dressed.
Despite the difficulties, she says, “today is the first day I have felt like Amy,” because the “cancer is in the lab now.”
‘The hardest time was waiting for surgery, thinking “I have cancer inside me”,’ she explained to The Mirror.
‘You’re thinking “It’s grade three, what if it’s spreading, what if it spreads tonight?”
‘The feeling of it made me feel disgusted, disgusting. That’s the time I was randomly crying, emotional.’
She will now have to wait one week for the histology report, which will determine the stage of the cancer and if additional treatment is required. They will determine if she need only radiation or chemotherapy as well – there is a 50/50 probability.
Amy’s breast was successfully rebuilt by the physicians, and while she hasn’t checked, Ben has told her that everything is ‘normal.’
‘Before I went for surgery he said to my boob, “Nice knowing you”. That’s so Ben,’ she recalled.
Amy has Crohn’s disease and has raised awareness by posting honest photos of flare-ups on social media and starring in the documentary Strictly Amy: Crohn’s and Me.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic illness in which sections of the digestive tract become inflamed, causing severe stomach pains, tiredness, diarrhoea, and weight loss. Patients are presently provided medication to treat symptoms and, in certain cases, surgery to remove part of the digestive tract.
How should you check your breasts for lumps or irregularities?
Discussing the importance of being breast aware, Addie Mitchell, clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Now, wants women to know there is no right or wrong way to check your breasts.
‘It’s about looking and feeling regularly so any changes can be spotted quickly,’ she said. ‘The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the more effective treatment may be.
‘Whatever your age, being aware of all the signs and symptoms of breast cancer is crucial – it’s not just a lump to look out for. Other changes could be a nipple becoming inverted or a change in texture of the skin.
‘While most symptoms won’t mean breast cancer, if you notice anything unusual for you get it checked out by your GP.
‘Anyone with questions can call Breast Cancer Now’s nurses free on 0808 800 6000 or visit breastcancernow.org.uk.’
She initially called having to deal with the two illnesses unfair.
‘I’ve had enough to deal with in my life with my Crohn’s. It’s not fair,’ she recalled feeling after being given her diagnosis. Now, she feels anger won’t help.
Amy also intends to consult with a reproductive specialist in order to give herself the greatest opportunity of becoming a mother in the future. Cancer medications can have an impact on fertility.
Doctors have ‘promised’ to do everything they can to assist her on her trip.
‘There are no guarantees but they [doctors] will give it their best shot,’ Amy said.
Amy began inspecting her breast after participating in the CoppaTrek! – a 100km trek guided by a friend to raise money for breast cancer organisations. Giovanna Fletcher was instrumental in the finding of the lump.
‘CoppaFeel! has now potentially saved my life, because I don’t know how long this lump could have been there before I would have noticed and done something about it,’ she explained.
