Amy Dowden gives update on chemotherapy treatment
Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden has opened up about the side effects she is experiencing as she undergoes chemotherapy for breast cancer.
The 33-year-old dancer remained upbeat and optimistic throughout a short Instagram update today, during which she updated her 500,000 followers on her health symptoms and how things are going.
Apologising for being “a little silent over the weekend”, she explained she’d had a third chemo session on Thursday, and wanted to give herself time to “fully recover” before heading to social media to share her status.
Sadly, the star has struggled with insomnia and a swollen face due to the steroids she’s been taking as part of her treatment.
According to Cancer Research UK, steroids can help treat the tumour itself, reduce inflammation and prevent allergic reactions, or simply reduce nausea which is a regular side-effect.
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However, they can come with side-effects, as Amy acknowledged when she grimaced: “You can’t sleep because of steroids so you’re so tired [and I’ve] got my steroid moon face which I’m used to anyway by now.”
Wearing a baseball cap to cover the top of her head, she added: “Obviously losing the hair still… but I’ve not ended up in hospital so far after this admission so that’s a win-win!”
She added: “I was told from all my fellow pink sisters that after the third EC [chemo treatment] is when you start to lose your eyelashes and your eyebrows [but] so far I’ve still got them!”
“Obviously I could still lose them and I’ve still got another EC to go before I then go onto a different type of chemo,” she explained.
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In spite of the gruelling treatment, Amy remained full of smiles, and shared how much the goodwill messages she’s received from fans have helped her spirit.
“Sorry to everyone who sends all the lovely messages. I read every single one of them online personally,” she shared.
“I just sometimes don’t have the energy to be able to reply, but honestly don’t think they’re taken for granted. They help so much, the love and support!”
Fortunately, her twin sister Becky was also there to provide support and she shared that the pair had a “lovely day planned” in the sunshine.
“You’ve just got to make the most of the good days, haven’t you?” the dancer exclaimed, before reiterating to fans who’ve supported her: “Thank you honestly from the bottom of my heart!”
She added that, in spite of additional nausea symptoms last week, she is “definitely feeling more like Amy” now.
Meanwhile, the star has vowed to return to the dancefloor and get back to the career she loves.
Though there have been some tears, and a dangerous bout of sepsis after the chemo weakened her immune system and made her more susceptible to infection, she’s shared that the Strictly team is looking into wigs for her to help her look and feel her most glamorous for a possible 2023 appearance on the show.
She’d previously declared: “You can take away my boob, but you can’t take dancing away from me!”
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