Amy Dowden, a beloved star of Strictly Come Dancing, has bravely shared her traumatic experience of losing her hair due to cancer treatment. She disclosed that the process was so emotionally challenging that she couldn’t bear to look in the mirror, and it led her to abandon brushing her hair altogether.
Appearing on the Strictly spin-off show, “It Takes Two,” the dancer, hailing from Caerphilly, candidly discussed her emotional journey, including the unexpected decision to shave her head. Amy expressed her hope that her story would serve as inspiration to others facing the same battle.
During her appearance on the show, while wearing a wig and in conversation with BBC Two host and fellow dancer Janet Manrara, she expressed that no amount of preparation could have equipped her for the rapid hair loss.
Amy, now 33 years old, shared, “I found it really traumatic – I couldn’t even brush my own hair after a while.” Instead, she leaned on her husband, Ben, to assist with this task. As her hair began to thin significantly, she reached a point where she could no longer bear to look at her reflection in the mirror.
Amy’s cancer journey began when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in April, a mere day before she was set to depart for her honeymoon in the Maldives. After a mastectomy, she received the news that the cancer had spread, revealing a different type of cancer. Amy also experienced a severe bout of sepsis following a previous round of chemotherapy.
Last month, she shared a poignant video featuring loved ones taking turns to cut a lock of her hair. “One night I just surprised my family by telling them, ‘I’m shaving it tomorrow,'” she recalled. “So we all got together and tried to make it as fun as possible.”
Despite the challenges she faced, Amy had previously described losing her hair as “empowering and positive.” On “It Takes Two,” she expressed her hope that her story would empower and inspire others enduring a similar ordeal.
Amy, who is now more than halfway through her chemotherapy treatment, conveyed her overwhelming gratitude for the support and messages she had received from colleagues on the show and viewers from all around the world. She also made a surprise appearance on last weekend’s episode of Strictly.
She spoke fondly of the people involved with the show, saying, “Everyone’s been amazing, from the dancers to all the people in makeup and wardrobe. They’ve all been messaging and Facetiming me, for which I’ll be forever grateful.” Amy further praised the show’s fans, labeling them “the best in the world,” and expressed her profound gratitude for their unwavering support during the most challenging days.
