Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has shown off a new wig after revealing she has started losing her hair following her second round of chemotherapy.
The 33-year-old professional dancer announced in June that she had undergone a mastectomy after being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.
Caerphilly-born Dowden later said doctors had found a different type of cancer and has since documented her experience in the hope of raising awareness and encouraging others to get themselves checked.
Following her second treatment, the BBC star updated her social media followers on her hair journey, sharing a short video of the custom-made medium-length brown hairpiece she had made.
She asked her nearly 500,000 Instagram followers to suggest a name for her new wig, writing: “But let’s name this beauty – any suggestions?”
Her post comes after Dowden wrote in a series of Instagram messages about her second chemotherapy treatment and revealed how “heartbroken” her hair loss had left her.
She wrote: “What I found more difficult this time and over the last few days was the hair loss. Although I use a cold cap, one hopes to keep 50 percent of the hair and there are many benefits to hair growing back faster too.
“But as much as I’ve prepared myself to wake up every day, gently comb my hair with a wide-tooth comb and see what comes out, it’s just heartbreaking for me personally.
“I only wash my hair once, twice a week at most, I don’t use heat or style it, so I just don’t feel like myself.”
Dowden shared a video of the fallen hair and wrote: “The reality when I gently comb,” along with a broken heart emoji.
The dancer later added: “I know it’s not going to last forever, but usually these few months are my favorite time of the year and I wish these months would go away, it hurts so much.”
“I know, and telling myself that your appearance hasn’t changed who I am inside, Amy… I’m still Amy!”
“Last week, there were days when I woke up and for the first few seconds you forget everything, and then suddenly everything becomes clear, the day and the challenges ahead and the new reality, and it’s hard. I cried a few times in the morning and learned that that’s OK too.”
In an effort to speak “openly and honestly” about her cancer experience, Dowden also described how she felt during treatment.
“So this cycle, when the second dose of Red Devil was administered, I started to feel sick,” she said. “I came home very tired and started throwing up (despite all the anti-nausea medication). By Friday afternoon, the nausea stopped and it was just waves of nausea that followed.”
“Still taking anti-nausea medication. Can’t sleep much because of the steroids and the insomnia that comes with them. Didn’t have any last cycle, but had a few nice friends with mouth ulcers this time.
“But I managed to go for a few walks, eat delicious homemade soups and smoothies and feel even better today. The little victories!”
She also thanked her friends, family and fans for their supportive messages, which “mean more to her than you will ever know.”
Dowden, who married fellow professional dancer Ben Jones in July 2022, had previously said she discovered a lump in her breast the day before her planned delayed honeymoon this year.
She took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 and was a finalist four years ago alongside presenter Karim Zeroual.
