Doctor's 'Mars Bar' Advice Angers Amy Dowden's Family

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden and her family experienced extreme helplessness when struggling to obtain medical answers regarding her health. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and undergoing treatment, she has since shown no evidence of disease and returned to the show. However, Dowden continues to live with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition she was diagnosed with at age 19.

Her childhood was marked by debilitating pain, sickness, and hospital stays. At one point, she was hospitalized for six weeks, feeling sicker than ever. Her father, Richard, intervened after a doctor dismissed her symptoms, wrongly suggesting she had an eating disorder and advising her to 'go and eat a Mars bar.' This inadequate care alarmed her family, with her mother expressing heartbreak and her father threatening legal action.

Following her father's confrontation, Amy was transferred to UCL London. A new consultant quickly suspected Crohn's disease based on her symptoms. Receiving the diagnosis brought immense relief, allowing her to access necessary treatment and pursue her dream of dancing. Dowden noted that her past struggles with Crohn's instilled resilience, making her cancer diagnosis 'easier' due to familiarity with medical procedures.