BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden says she was 'broken' after cancer diagnosis

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has revealed the profound emotional impact of her breast cancer diagnosis, stating she felt "broken" upon learning she had two types of the disease. The 35-year-old dancer discovered a lump in early 2023 and, after initial examinations, underwent surgery. It was then discovered she had both ductal and lobular breast cancer, a more complex situation than initially anticipated. This diagnosis led to a mastectomy and subsequent chemotherapy, which induced a medically premature menopause. Amidst her treatment, Dowden expressed significant distress over concerns about her fertility. She shared that the possibility of her fertility being affected was devastating, especially as she had recently married and discussed future family plans. Despite the emotional toll, Dowden made the proactive decision to freeze her eggs before commencing chemotherapy, successfully creating five embryos. This provided her with a sense of reassurance about future family planning, as the embryos are from when she was 32, offering a better quality than if retrieved at her current age. Doctors have agreed to revisit discussions... download the app to read more