Amy Dowden considered walking away from Strictly after cancer diagnosis

EntertainmentHealth & Fitness
3 Mar 2026 • 3:20 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden revealed she nearly abandoned her dance career following treatment for breast cancer.
  • Diagnosed in 2023, Dowden underwent chemotherapy and two mastectomies, which she said caused her to lose her flexibility and speed.
  • She credited fellow professional Carlos Gu and her husband for convincing her not to give up, reminding her that cancer should not take her dancing.
  • Dowden's profound love for dance and the joy it brought her and her family reignited her determination to regain her fitness and return to performing.
  • She also disclosed that her 2021 partnership with Tom Fletcher inadvertently saved her life by introducing her to breast cancer awareness through his wife's charity work.

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