By Lauren Haughey

Copyright walesonline

Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden has candidly spoken about the ‘hard slog’ of recovery following her cancer battle. The 35-year-old star underwent a mastectomy and intense chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. Amy shared her journey on social media, joyfully announcing in February 2024 that she had ‘no evidence of the disease’. However, the Welsh dancer has now disclosed that her recovery took longer than anticipated, describing it as a ‘very scary time’. Speaking on the Breast Cancer Uncovered podcast, she said: ” All of a sudden my diary was blank because I was cancelling dance shows, I was cancelling up and coming work. And I didn’t know, was I going to be dancing again? “Was I going to be working again? It was a very scary time and you don’t know when you are going to get back to full health. There is no guarantee you will.” Breast Cancer Uncovered is a five-part series that delves into the ‘realities of breast cancer’, discussing topics such as diagnosis, recovery, and even diet. Amy collaborated with breast cancer surgeon Naren Basu to film the series, which can be listened to on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. During this episode’s discussion, she continued: “For me, if somebody who had such a full-on loaded diary to all of a sudden then to be cancelling everything and not know when your life was going to resume was, for me particularly, was really tough.” She also added: ” I thought that was it. Life was going to resume. I didn’t realise that hard slog then of recovery and how long that actually took.” Amy frequently uses her platform to promote breast cancer awareness, urging women to regularly self-examine for vital warning signs. Key indicators to be vigilant for include lumps, swelling, and unusual alterations in breast size or shape, among other symptoms: Advice from the NHS also adds: “Checking your breasts or chest regularly helps you learn what looks and feels normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes that could be a sign of a condition such as breast cancer. “You should try to check your breasts or chest about once a month.” The NHS invites women registered with a GP to attend breast screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 71. These invitations are typically posted out. “If you’re a trans man, trans woman or are non-binary you may be invited automatically, or you may need to talk to your GP surgery or call the local breast screening service to ask for an appointment,” the healthy body adds. “You need to be registered with a GP surgery to be invited for breast screening.” Nevertheless, anyone who spots unusual changes in their breasts is advised to seek GP guidance, whatever their age. The NHS adds: “Lumps in the breasts can have lots of different causes. They’re often caused by something harmless like a non-cancerous tissue growth (fibroadenoma) or a build-up of fluid (breast cyst). “Sometimes, a breast lump can be a sign of something serious like breast cancer. Do not try to self-diagnose the cause of your lump – always see a GP.” Further information is available at the NHS website . Macmillan Cancer Support has a free helpline that’s open every day from 8am to 8pm. They’re there to listen if you have anything you want to talk about. Call: 0808 808 00 00