Amy Dowden: My body is not mine anymore.

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has revealed a profound shift in her relationship with her body following a recent mastectomy. The Welsh dancer, who has been battling breast cancer since 2023, shared on Stand Up To Cancer that she no longer feels an "emotional attachment" to her physical self.

Dowden reflected on her cancer journey, acknowledging how a diagnosis forever alters one's identity. She described experiencing hair loss, undergoing chemotherapy, and being placed into menopause due to her hormone-fed cancer, which has impacted her hopes of motherhood. Despite these challenges and a recent mastectomy five weeks prior to her appearance, she remains proud of her resilience.

Having missed the 2023 Strictly season due to treatment, Dowden has since returned to the dance floor. She admitted to struggling with her appearance and energy levels, finding herself petrified and crying herself to sleep, longing for her pre-cancer self. Nevertheless, she expresses gratitude for life and her continued presence on the show.