The beloved Strictly Come Dancing professional had a preventative mastectomy last month
Sara Baalla Screen Time TV Reporter
11:09, 01 Dec 2025
Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has shared a devastating cancer update, saying, “Every day I live in fear”.
The 35-year-old Welsh professional dancer was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023 after discovering a lump whilst on her honeymoon.
She was missed Strictly that year, courageously sharing her health battle whilst receiving overwhelming support from fans and co-stars.
Several months on, Amy declared there was “no evidence of disease”. Yet last month, the star disclosed she would undergo another mastectomy following discussions with her medical team.
Amy has documented her second mastectomy for ITV’s Lorraine, with the opening instalment of her journey broadcast on Monday (December 1), reports Wales Online.
Amy Dowden had a second mastectomy last month(Image: ITV)READ MORE: Balvinder Sopal’s life off-screen as she’s set to ‘miss’ Strictly semi-finalREAD MORE: Strictly Come Dancing star flooded with support as they leave show ‘where to even begin’
In the moving segment, the dancer confessed: “I think the shocking thing for me with a cancer diagnosis was I thought that once I’d rang that bell, it was going to be all done and dusted. But it really, really isn’t.
“It was two years ago since I finished my active chemotherapy, and in the following year, unfortunately with my mammogram, it picked up specs on my other breast. Although they came back as pre-cancerous cells and specs, it’s still always been in the back of my mind.”
Amy continued by revealing she remained constantly “worried” following a tumour in her right breast, which resulted in ductal cancer. When surgeons initially operated, they subsequently discovered two additional tumours, solidifying her choice to undergo a mastectomy.
Discussing her decision to undergo another surgery, the star shared: “This is preventative. I’m young. I want children. I would do anything to just have my old life back and not be going through this. I certainly don’t want to have surgery again. But what I do know is I can’t go through another cancer diagnosis again. I can’t.”
The star has documented her journey for ITV’s Lorraine(Image: ITV)
Amy continued: “I’ve been eliminated from Strictly and I do feel like the universe is telling me something. And you know what? Going to bed every night with peace of mind, I think will mean more than anything to me.”
Following a meeting with her surgeon, Amy opened up about the “dark” period she’s navigating, expressing her constant fear of the cancer returning. “Every day I live in fear of [the cancer] returning,” she said.
Before her surgery in November, Amy and her husband Ben weighed all possible options.
Explaining how she was feeling emotional ahead of the operation, Amy said: “I’m feeling obviously nervous, anxious, but I just want to get it done now… I got rid of all my mastectomy stuff only in the summer because I thought, ‘I’m never going to need this again’. And here we are again.
“People say to me, ‘Oh, you’re so strong. You’re so brave’. But you have no choice, do you? I think I’m just ultimately right now making the right decision for me.”
ITV viewers can keep up with Amy’s journey on Lorraine throughout December.
Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, while Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 at 9am
If you would like more information or support about living with cancer or treatment, visit Macmillan Cancer Support or Stand Up to Cancer
