Strictly star Amy Dowden diagnosed with breast cancer at 32

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Amy Dowden has revealed she has been diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer, at the age of 32.

The Welsh professional dancer first joined the hit BBC show in 2017 and quickly became a fan favourite. She is unsure if she will return for the next series.

Opening up about her diagnosis in an interview with Hello! magazine, she said: “I’ve been through quite a lot in my life and this is another hurdle. But if I’m positive and strong, I’ve got a really good chance of getting back out on the dancefloor as soon as possible.”

Sadly, she is no stranger to this form of cancer as her mum also had it.

“You just don’t ever think it’s going to happen to you,” she said. “I hadn’t thought it was possible to get breast cancer at my age.”

Last June, Dowden joined I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! winner Giovanna Fletcher on a charity hike in Pembrokeshire for CoppaFeel, a charity that encourages people to check their breasts and supports people with breast cancer.

Posting about the hike at the time, she said: ““Would love any donation possible towards this fantastic charity which is very close to my heart after watching my mum and close friend battle with breast cancer.”

Dowden was partnered with Fletcher’s husband and McFly frontman Tom Fletcher during the 2021 series of Strictly.

Last year she married her professional dance partner Ben Jones following a two-year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic.