Amy Dowden has spoken about losing her eyelashes for the second time due to her ongoing cancer treatment.
The Strictly Come Dancing star took to social media to give fans an update on her health after realising she had arrived an hour early for a routine hospital appointment, the Mirror reported.
The Welsh dancer said: “Good morning everyone. It’s been ages since I’ve been here and spoken to you all but I’m not going to lie. I accidentally arrived an hour early to get my blood work done at the hospital so I thought, you know what? I’ll come by and say hello to you all.”
The 33-year-old gave her fans a glimpse of her short blonde hair, which is growing back after chemotherapy. She told her 700,000 followers: “Sorry about the wild hair. I applied this serum to keep it in condition a bit but it’s become a bit curly and wild. I’ve also lost my eyelashes again, just a few.”
“They grow back, but I read a few posts during my treatment from women saying they lost them again, after the 12-week cycle, so let me know if that’s happened to you. It’s a bit frustrating, but it’s not the end of the world. Anyway, I didn’t want to tell you that, but I got carried away.”
Speaking about her new show, Amy added: “Actually, tonight is Dare to Dance with Debbie and Chris. This episode is emotional. But it’s beautiful. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a really big day and Debs and I have something in common at this time.
“You know what? She’s just a really special lady and I can’t wait for you all to meet Debbie and Chris. And also my friend Dianne Buswell is coming and helping us out too, so if you can tune in tonight to watch the final episode of Dare to Dance of this series. And if you haven’t seen any of them, you can catch the first and second series on iPlayer.”
Concluding the post, Amy said: “Anyway, I might go and visit some more nurses. But happy Friday to you all and sending you all my Welsh love.” She then blew a kiss to the camera.
Amy continues to attend regular check-ups and treatments after being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023.
After her diagnosis, Amy underwent a bilateral mastectomy, but received the tragic news that doctors had found additional tumors and a different type of cancer and that she would need chemotherapy.
In November of last year, Amy finally rang the bell that signaled her final round of chemotherapy, but she will continue to see doctors over the next five years to keep her cancer at bay.
Amy shared an emotional video of this milestone in her recovery, saying: “I rang the bell and I’m so grateful I got to! My hardest journey yet! Looking back over the last few months and thinking about how my body got through this both physically and mentally.”
“From being told ‘I’m so sorry Amy, it’s cancer’ and ‘what are your fertility plans’ to a mastectomy, two weeks later daily hormone injections to retrieve my eggs, a mild Crohn’s flare and then chemo plus my ovaries failing that same day which unfortunately resulted in sepsis, blood clots, the loss of my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes (a few still attached) and three toenails.
“But it has also taken away my love of life over the last few months and of course my DANCING! It’s been hard. But hopefully it has now given me the chance for more life, which I am eternally grateful for and will never take for granted again. I will never be the same Amy again, but what I do know is that I am so much stronger than I ever knew and that I have made the most amazing friends along the way.”
She continued, “I hate looking in the mirror right now, but I know it’s a small price to pay and that this too shall pass. I am so grateful to the wonderful Sheldon Oncology Unit and my family and friends who have been there tirelessly for Ben and I. We did it! Although my journey is not over, that day when I rang the chemo bell felt like an endless distance and at some points I thought I would never make it. I am so proud of myself.
“Now I’m waiting for an MRI scan to see if I need any more surgery but for now I’m celebrating my chemotherapy coming to an end. Thank you all for your love and support along the way. My dancing shoes are warming up and I can’t wait to get back in the training room! And now please remember to check yourselves, if you don’t then who will?! Welsh love.”
*Watch Dare to Dance on Friday 12 April at 7.30pm on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer.
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