Amy Dowden held back tears as she spoke about her “extremely tough” battle with breast cancer during Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer on Friday.
The Strictly star, 33, spoke about hormone treatment forcing her body into menopause and fears she might not be able to have children with her new husband Ben Jones.
Amy, who was officially diagnosed with the disease in May, discovered a lump in her right breast in April, a day before she and her boyfriend left for a delayed honeymoon trip to the Maldives following their wedding last July.
She told presenter Davina McCall: “I had sepsis, blood clots, had to undergo hormone treatment and then went through menopause.”
“When I sat in that room and the doctor said, ‘Yes, Amy, you have cancer,’ that was a cue, and then what are your ‘fertility plans’?” ‘.
Truth be told: Amy Dowden, 33, held back tears as she spoke about her “extremely tough” battle with breast cancer during Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer on Friday
Brave: The Strictly star spoke about hormone treatment forcing her body into menopause and fears she might not be able to have children with new husband Ben Jones
“Because I have estrogen-caused cancer and they basically have to close my ovaries, and my husband is next to me and we’ve only been married a few months!”
Adding, “And it’s just heartbreaking and this is something I never knew and the emotional impact was just so hard.”
However, Amy also had good news and revealed that she would be having her final chemotherapy session next week.
I said, “It’s been the hardest year of my life, but I hope I’ve done enough with the surgery and chemotherapy.”
Last week, Amy told her followers on Instagram that she was “really disappointed” when she posted a health update.
She said she was disappointed after she was unable to attend an event in her hometown.
Amy posted the news on her feed and shared a photo of herself cuddling up on the sofa and looking very cozy with a fluffy hood around her face.
The professional dancer was waiting to watch Sunday’s episode and wrote a sweet caption to support her co-stars.
Tough: Amy, who was officially diagnosed with the disease in May, discovered a lump in her right breast in April, the day before she and her boyfriend flew to the Maldives for a delayed honeymoon following their wedding last July (pictured with host Davina ). McCall)
Health: She told presenter Davina McCall: “I had sepsis, blood clots, had to undergo hormone treatment and then went through menopause.”
Tough: “Because I have estrogen-related cancer and they basically have to close my ovaries, and my husband is next to me and we’ve only been married a few months!”
Love: Amy pictured with husband Ben
“Snuggled up, rrrr ready for the @bbcstricktly results show tonight!” I always love Halloween week (although it’s very different watching from the sofa, but still a brilliant show and I’m so proud of all my fabulous professional colleagues).’
Amy then warmly thanked everyone who took part and was involved in “making Caerphilly pink for Amy”.
Amy’s hometown of Caerphilly held a fundraiser to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
She continued: “I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped make Caerphilly pink for Amy.” From raising money, raising awareness with leaflets and tools galore, dance performances which started it all for me, @ shappelles, pink cakes and milkshake sales, you name it.
‘Thank you all.
Snuggled up: Last week, Amy told her followers on Instagram that she was “really disappointed” when she posted a health update
Touching words: Amy’s hometown of Caerphilly held a fundraiser to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
DITL: A while later, the star showed the reality of what chemotherapy means in a video
Happy: Strictly’s Amy Dowden revealed the ‘finish line is in sight’ as she gave a positive update on her chemotherapy journey on Thursday
“I can’t tell you what it means to me and my family! I’m just disappointed that I couldn’t be grateful forever.”
The heartfelt words included a series of pink hearts, bows and praying emojis.
The Welsh dancer previously shared some positive news with her fans as she revealed the “finish line” for her chemotherapy journey was in sight.
Amy was diagnosed with the disease in May and received treatment over the summer. She recently had a breakdown while shaving her hair.
She has now posted an update as she shared a sweet snap on her Instagram with another cancer patient during her hospital stay.
Amy wrote alongside: “Yayyyyy my platelets were all good for chemo 7 and it was nice too @kiimmbo.6 7. (another pink sister on a similar journey) for both of us, next session we should ring the chemo bell.” ring the bell and I just can’t wait!
“It’s so nice to be able to chat again today about everything to do with chemotherapy and breast cancer.” The goal is already in sight for us.
One in two of us will develop cancer in our lifetime*. Stand Up To Cancer helps us all fight it. To donate, call 0300 123 4444* or text FORTY, THIRTY, TWENTY or TEN to 70404 for £40, £30, £20 or £10. For more information and to donate online, can be found at Channel4.com/SU2C.
What is breast cancer, how many people are affected by it and what are the symptoms?
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. There are more than 55,000 new cases in the UK every year and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer arises from a cancer cell that develops in the lining of a milk duct or lobe in one of the breasts.
If the breast cancer has spread into the surrounding breast tissue, it is called “invasive” breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with “carcinoma in situ,” in which no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobe.
Most cases occur in women over 50, although younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, although this is rare.
Staging involves how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
The cancer cells are graded from “low” (slow growth) to “high” (fast growth). High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after the first treatment.
What causes breast cancer?
A cancerous tumor arises from an abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. Something is thought to damage or alter certain genes in the cell. This causes the cell to become abnormal and multiply.
There are some risk factors that may increase your risk of developing breast cancer, such as genetic factors.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid-filled cysts that are benign.
The first place breast cancer usually spreads is the lymph nodes in the armpit. In this case, a swelling or lump occurs in the armpit.
For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call the free hotline on 0808 800 6000