Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has revealed that a blunt warning from her dance teacher helped convince her to undergo chemotherapy after her breast cancer diagnosis. The 36-year-old, who now has "no evidence of disease", was initially resistant to treatment — until her teacher Carol delivered some "tough love".
Speaking on The Lewis Nicholls Show podcast, Amy recalled that Carol had a "brutal" reaction when she shared the news that she had five successful embryos secured. The embryos were harvested after egg retrieval prior to her cancer treatment, which required her to be put into menopause, to give her and husband Ben Jones the chance to try for a baby in the future.
Blunt words that changed her mind
Amy said: "I didn't want to do chemo and everyone was treading eggshells around me, even though they knew I needed it, and I didn't want it." She went on to describe how her sister and mother had been keeping Carol updated, and when Amy told her about the embryos, Carol's response was direct: "That's great, but what good use is that going to be if you're not going to be around to have them."
Amy admitted she was startled by the comment but recognised she "needed it", explaining: "She couldn't believe she'd said it, but it was the tough love and the honesty I needed." Carol also reminded her that she might miss one Strictly season but could do the next five to 10. Amy added: "I needed to hear it, as brutal as it was, I needed to hear that."
Return to the ballroom
Amy, who was reluctant because she was "scared" to lose her hair, has previously spoken about her family plans on the What If? podcast with Lorraine Kelly and her daughter Rosie. She shared last year: "We would love a family and we've got embryos, because, obviously, I've got a hormone-fed cancer so I was put into menopause, which happened the day I started chemo. So in a couple of years, when they feel it's safe, hopefully, we'll have the opportunity."
This weekend, Amy is set to return to the Strictly dance floor, stepping in to perform with Kai Widdrington after Delta Goodrem was forced to withdraw from Icons Week with a rib injury. She was eliminated from the BBC programme first this series alongside celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, 43, which left her "heartbroken". She is believed to be set to perform to Dolly Parton's Jolene.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday October 17 from 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
