03 December 2023 , 17:09
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Amy Dowden has opened up about the support she's received from her Strictly Come Dancing family since beginning her journey with breast cancer.
The 33-year-old announced she'd been diagnosed with the disease in May, after discovering a lump while on her honeymoon in the Maldives with her husband Ben Jones.
The devastating news required her to undergo a mastectomy, which was followed by another cancer diagnosis that forced her to pull out from this year's season of the BBC reality show. She completed her last round of chemotherapy at the Sheldon Unit in Birmingham last month, admitting that the experience has been "the toughest" she's ever been through.
Amy Dowden gave a shout-out to Neil Jones after getting medical treatment for blood clots (Instagram)
Neil Jones has shared his support for Amy in the past (BBC/Ray Burmiston)Amy has now revealed that a fellow Strictly Come Dancing pro rushed to help her after she needed injections for blood clots following hospitalization for the "nasty" health issue. The Welsh native was supported by Neil Jones, who last danced on Strictly in 2019, after undergoing intravenous treatment.
"So big shout out to Mr Neil Jones, who helped me last night, because it’s like a proper beasting. I’ve had so many people message me and say, “Yeah they’re nasty, aren’t they?" she shared. Her sweet tribute to Neil comes just a few months after the 41-year-old revealed his support for his Strictly friend. "I know for anybody there’s going to be people calling and all of that so with Amy especially, I just send her a little message every now and again and just say, ‘If you need anything – just let us know, we’re always here for you,'" he told the Daily Star in August.
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Amy has revealed that she has been on blood-thinning tablets for blood clots since August, but that she required injections when the pills failed to remedy the issue. "I got two blood clots in my arm, and then to have developed another blood clot on my lung, obviously I need something stronger, so I've gone onto the injections, which I'm getting used to,' she said, before confessing that she's 'rubbish' at giving herself injections. She also said that she'd had injections multiple times for her Crohn's and that they sting and leave her stomach 'a bit tender.'
In another blow to her health, Amy also fractured her foot recently and has been required to wear a boot. Elsewhere in her latest update, she revealed that being around her Strictly colleagues physically at the live shows has been extremely beneficial to her during this difficult period.
"Just being at Strictly, honestly it's so much easier being there and being part of it with all my friends [rather than] sitting at home watching it," she said. "Mentally... it's been tough, so I just need it. I really do. But I am listening to my body, and I am resting up."