Amy Dowden was given a standing ovation as she reunited with her Strictly co-stars ahead of new series – amid her breast cancer battle.
The professional dancer recently joined them for a photoshoot after they had filmed one of their pre-recorded dances in front of a small group of fans as she saw them for the first time since her treatment began.
Amy, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and began chemotherapy after doctors discovered she was fighting another type of cancer too.
The Radio Times who organised the shoot which saw some fans watching said: ‘It was an emotional moment – tears were shed – and when she finally stepped back onto the floor, the watching audience of die-hard Strictly fans treated her to a spontaneous standing ovation.’
Amy added while speaking to the publication: ‘I don’t think, actually, I could get through the next few months without Strictly.
Kind: Amy Dowden was given a standing ovation as she reunited with her Strictly co-stars ahead of new series – amid her breast cancer battle
Together: The professional dancer recently joined them for a photoshoot after they had filmed one of their pre-recorded dances as she saw them for the first time since her treatment began
‘I’ll be part of the show in different areas. It’s the tonic that I need at the moment.’
‘There are so many ways to be involved, and they’re going to be guided by me. I’m just really grateful for them keeping me involved, and giving me the support and encouragement I need.’
Graziano Di Prima said of the moment she came to the photoshoot: ‘To be honest with you, we didn’t expect that The fact that Amy’s come in here – there are no words to describe her strength right now.
‘We are a family. You could see people from production, and those who work behind the scenes, and the lighting crew, and the audience – everyone together supporting her.’
It comes as this week Amy admitted she can no longer bear to brush her hair after her chemotherapy treatments have caused her locks to fall out.
She has been open about the side effects of treatment, including hair loss, and confessed she was finding it tough.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on Monday, Amy updated her followers on how she was doing and admitted things were ‘really hard’.
She said: ‘So many messages asking me how I’m coping with the hair loss and I’m not gonna lie, it is really hard.’
Tough: Amy, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and began chemotherapy after doctors discovered she was fighting another type of cancer too
Brave: It comes as this week Amy admitted she can no longer bear to brush her hair after her chemotherapy treatments have caused her locks to fall out
Trying to stay positive, she added: ‘I think I cry less now. To begin with, it was every day, but now I have meltdowns when I wash my hair once a week.
‘For the last two weeks now, I haven’t brushed my hair and that has definitely helped.
‘Since I came out of hospital with the blood clots, I stopped brushing it myself because I was just getting distraught seeing how much was falling out.’
Amy explained that her husband and dance partner Ben Jones, who she married last year, has been helping by brushing her hair for her so she can’t see what’s falling out.
She explained: ‘I obviously am aware of it, but I’m not physically seeing or holding the hair that I’m losing and that for me is helping me big time.’
Amy looked gorgeous in the video, wearing her hair tucked under a patterned purple and pink scarf.
She said: ‘If I take my scarf off, you’ll see there’s hardly any [hair left], but it’s okay. I keep telling myself, “This too shall pass”.’
She then admitted: ‘This is definitely the hardest part for me personally,’ but said she wasn’t ready to shave her head.
She said: ‘I will get to that point… but I’m just not ready yet.’
On Tuesday, the dancer shared a health update with fans after her latest round of chemotherapy.
Amy assured her Instagram followers she was ‘getting there’ as she detailed the side effects she had been suffering through.
She said: ‘I had a bit of sickness, tiredness but you can’t sleep because of the steroids. Got my steroid moon face, which I am used to anyway by now’.
But she declared she was ‘feeling a lot more like Amy today’.
Opening up previously about her hair loss last month, Amy said: ‘As much as I prepared myself waking up everyday gently combing my hair with a wide comb and seeing what comes out, it is just heartbreaking personally for me.
Difficult time: The professional dancer has been open about the side effects of treatment, including hair loss, and confessed she was finding it tough
Hard: Opening up previously about her hair loss last month, Amy said: ‘As much as I prepared myself waking up everyday gently combing my hair with a wide comb and seeing what comes out, it is just heartbreaking personally for me’
‘I’m only washing my hair once, max twice, this week, not using any heat on my hair or styling it so I just don’t feel like me.
‘So it’s time to bring out the wig I say and get used to this and help me feel like me. I’m still Amy!
‘Some days last week I’d wake and for the first few seconds you forget and then suddenly it all hits you, the day and challenges ahead and your new reality and it’s tough – had a few morning cries and learning that’s OK too.’
She then thanked everyone for their messages of support, penning: ‘Thank you again for all the lovely messages asking how I am, want to be open and honest and hopefully help others going through or those supporting those on their journeys too!’