Strictly star Amy Dowden has shared that she will undergo a second mastectomy this week as part of her continued breast cancer journey.
The 35-year-old dancer was first diagnosed in May 2023 and has since faced an intense course of treatment, including a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility preservation, and a life-threatening battle with sepsis.
By February 2024, she announced that doctors could no longer detect any signs of the disease, though she explained she would not be officially classed as “all clear” for five years and would still require ongoing care.
In a new Instagram update posted on Monday, Amy who was the first to be eliminated from this year’s Strictly alongside Thomas Skinner revealed she is preparing for another mastectomy.
She wrote: “As many of you know, I’ve always been open about my health and the treatment I receive. So I want to be clear that what I’m sharing now is not because of a new cancer diagnosis.
“After a recent appointment with my amazing medical team, we’ve decided that I’ll be having another mastectomy this week. They’re confident that, if everything goes smoothly, I should have a straightforward recovery.”
Strictly star Amy Dowden has shared that she is set to undergo a second mastectomy as part of her ongoing battle with breast cancer. Although doctors found no trace of the disease in her body in 2024, they advised that she wouldn’t be officially considered “all clear” for another five years.
In an Instagram update posted on Monday, the dancer who was the first to be eliminated from this year’s Strictly alongside Thomas Skinner announced that she will now undergo a second mastectomy.
She explained, “After a recent appointment with my wonderful medical team, we decided that I’ll be having another mastectomy… and all being well, I should have a smooth recovery.”
Amy ended her message by saying, “Once I’ve healed, I can’t wait to rejoin my Strictly family. I’ll really miss being there, but I’ll be watching from home and cheering everyone on. Thank you, as always, for all the support. Welsh love, Amy xxx.”
As part of her ongoing treatment, Amy visits her local oncology ward each month for monitoring and to receive an injection.
Last month, she spoke candidly about the sadness she felt over “letting down” other cancer survivors after she and her celebrity partner, Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, were the first couple to leave this year’s series.
“I’m devastated to be out,” she admitted at the Women of the Year Awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. “I really wanted to represent cancer survivors—and I feel like I’ve let them down. I wanted Thomas to go far, but selfishly, I wanted to do it for the cancer community. Since my diagnosis, I’ve come back, been pulled out, come back again, and then finished last.”
Amy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, less than a year after marrying fellow dancer Benjamin Jones.
Although she was given the all-clear early last year, her initial Strictly return—where she was paired with JLS star JB Gill—was cut short after just six weeks due to a foot injury.
“I just wanted to show what you can achieve after cancer,” she said at the time. “But I keep reminding myself that returning to Strictly and stepping back onto the dancefloor proves there is life after a cancer diagnosis.”
As part of her continuing cancer treatment, Amy visits her local oncology ward once a month for monitoring and an injection.
After being eliminated from the show last month, she thanked Thomas for helping her rebuild her confidence throughout her health struggles.
She said, “I’ve gotten to know the real Tom, and he is adorable. He’s taken such good care of me. We’ve laughed so much. We worked incredibly hard and winning a glitterball would have been lovely, but after the last few years, I’ve learned that happiness, health, and simply being alive matter more than anything.
“I’ve gained a friend for life, and I wouldn’t change a thing. There’s a real Ballroom boy in there, so I’m gutted he didn’t get the chance to do Ballroom, but the last few years have been tough for me. I lost all confidence as a dancer — but walking into the room with you, with your huge smile and laugh, you brought me back. Thank you.”
When Tess Daly asked about their time on the series, Thomas added, “I’ve loved it. I’d never danced before, and even though my time was short, Amy’s amazing. It’s been great fun. I can’t really dance, but I’ve enjoyed every minute. Thank you, Amy — sorry we didn’t get further, because you’re in a league of your own.”
Before the season began, Amy had said she felt “fitter and stronger than ever” as she continued recovering from cancer and from the injury that forced her out of last year’s series.
Amy was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at age 32 in 2023 and chose to share her experience publicly in hopes of helping others. She explained that she recognized the lump she found the day before her honeymoon because she already knew what her breasts normally felt like.
“It was a really solid lump for a start, and it wasn’t on the other breast,” she said.
The dancer — who had to quit last year’s Strictly due to a foot injury — urged others, “If there’s something you’re unsure about, go to your GP. Get it checked.”
While Amy was thankfully told she had ‘no evidence of cancer’ last year after surgery and chemotherapy, she has since spoken out about the ‘longest’ part of her journey – her recovery.
She stressed the importance of getting checked, saying, “It doesn’t matter how big or small it might feel — don’t worry about being a nuisance. That’s exactly why our healthcare system is there.”
Although Amy was told last year that there was “no evidence of cancer” following surgery and chemotherapy, she has since spoken openly about the most difficult phase of her journey — the long, often overwhelming recovery process.
In general, breast cancer survivors face the highest risk of recurrence within the first five years, something Amy is acutely aware of.
“I was so naïve,” she admitted. “I thought I’d ring the bell and life would go straight back to normal. I never anticipated how long recovery would take — physically and mentally — and I wish I’d been more prepared for that.”
Speaking as part of Keep Ahead, a campaign by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK to raise awareness of life after cancer, Amy explained that although she still has challenging years ahead, dancing has been her lifeline.
“Especially this year, I’ve just thrown myself into it — taking lessons, doing theatre tours, and finally being able to do what I love most. Dance is what has carried me through the toughest moments.”