Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amy Dowden has had a wig manufactured while undergoing breast cancer treatment.
The ballroom dancer, 33, originally shared her stage 3 cancer diagnosis in May, telling her followers that she was staying optimistic and more eager than ever to return to the dancing.
Amy will be unable to compete in Strictly this year due to doctors identifying new malignancies and her undergoing chemotherapy after previously having a single mastectomy.
She’s been recording the process, revealing all of her hospital stays’ feelings, with her Strictly co-stars and previous contestants cheering her on.
Amy revealed the wig she manufactured to bolster her confidence after earlier discussing her concerns about losing her hair in her most recent post.
She couldn’t stop praising Be Unique Wigs By Charlotte on her Instagram Story, stating she ‘liked’ the wig.
She even ordered a second one, as well as a lengthier one.
A closer look at the wig was subsequently given, and it looks wonderful.
Wig maker Charlotte wrote alongside a 360° video of the mousy brown wavy hair on a mannequin: ‘Had the pleasure of being asked to make this beautiful wig for the amazingly talented @amy_dowden it was an honour to make this for you and I’m hoping it will give you some comfort in a difficult time’.
She added that losing your hair during cancer treatment ‘can make such a difference to your confidence’ as it feels like ‘losing part of your identity’.
‘I’m very passionate about my job and try my best every day to get you the hair you all deserve’, she added sweetly.
Amy has also been wearing a cold cap throughout her chemotherapy sessions, which is a headgear used during treatments that has a cooling effect.
As explained by the NHS, it reduces blood flow to the scalp, which also reduces the amount of chemotherapy medication that reaches this area. This helps to prevent hair loss.
Amy’s wig pleasure comes after she and her twin sister, Becky, celebrated their birthdays on August 10.
The singer, who discovered a lump in her breast while preparing for her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones, paid homage to her identical sibling on Instagram.
There was also a hint of melancholy, as Amy revealed she was looking forward to the event.
She wrote: ‘I wasn’t looking forward to this birthday. At the moment any milestone or event is a bigger reminder and hurts.
‘I’m far from what I should and normally be doing, in the rehearsal room with my Strictly family.’
‘But all your wishes this morning have certainly cheered me up,’ she told her followers.
Amy then went on to share that her birthday wish this year was for ‘all to take the time to check themselves’.
Tagging cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel!, she shared one of their information sheets about breast cancer.
‘[It] Doesn’t take long! That’s my birthday wish! Thank you so much again for all the love and support, it really does help and mean so much to me,’ she added.
How to check your breasts for signs of cancer
CoppaFeel! offers three simple steps on how to check your own chest for signs of cancer.
Look
- Look at your boobs, pecs or chest.
- Look at the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in size, outline or shape and changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling.
Feel
- Feel each of your boobs, pecs or chest.
- Feel the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling, or any lumps, bumps or skin thickening which are different from the opposite side.
Notice your nipples
- Look at each of your nipples.
Be aware of any nipple discharge that’s not milky, any bleeding from the nipple, any rash or crusting on or around your nipple area that doesn’t heal easily and any change in the position of your nipple.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
