Amy Dowden posts sweet snaps with her Strictly co-stars behind the scenes as she returns for the final amid her breast cancer battle
Amy Dowden posted sweet snaps with her Strictly co-stars backstage as she returned to the show for Saturday's final amid her battle with breast cancer.
The professional dancer, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May and underwent a mastectomy in July, leaving her off the show this year while she underwent treatment.
But she returned for the final and seemed to be having a great time as she caught up with all her friends in the dressing rooms during the show.
She shared photos with finalist Dianne Buswell, as well as dancers Nancy Xu and Gorka Marquez.
Amy looked stunning in a baby blue dress as she shared the mirror selfie with Gorka and also shared a photo with fellow pro Carlos Gu.
Amy Dowden posted sweet snaps with her Strictly co-stars backstage as she returned to the show for Saturday's final amid her battle with breast cancer (seen with Dianne Buswell)
She shared photos with finalist Dianne Buswell, as well as dancers Nancy Xu (pictured) and Gorka Marquez
Strictly speaking viewers were moved to tears when Amy returned to the show's dance floor during this year's final on Saturday.
Although she appeared in the program and its spin-off It Takes Two, she had not danced with her fellow professionals before the final.
But on Saturday she took to the dance floor again and opted to go without a wig as she lost her hair after her chemotherapy.
The moment left viewers feeling emotional, with many taking to Twitter to express their joy at seeing her on screen.
One viewer wrote: 'Watching Amy Dowden dance in #StrictlyFinal makes me sad. Let's get her back on #strictly soon!'
Someone else said: 'That Amy Dowden reveal was a MOMENT.'
'@AmyDowden dancing!!! Oh my god, that's so good to see. Leaky eyes moment,” another viewer shared.
While someone else posted: 'OMG #Strictly A minute later and bawling at the sight of the beautiful #AmyDowden dancing.'
Amy looked stunning in a baby blue dress as she shared the mirror selfie with Gorka, writing: “Who's finally ready???”
She also shared a photo with fellow professional dancer Carlos Gu while contestant Zara McDermott could be seen in the background
Another show fan commented: 'Amy Dowden dancing without a wig is the energy everyone needs.'
While someone else shared: 'Great to see Amy Dowden in the opening routine!!'
Amy quit the series of Strictly Come Dancing this year because she was undergoing chemotherapy. which she completed in November.
However, earlier this week the star appeared on ITV's This Morning where she admitted that she cancer journey is far from over.
The chemo caused neuropathy, which caused her to temporarily lose feeling in her hands and feet, causing her to land on her foot at an odd angle and break her metatarsal bone.
And just weeks after breaking her foot, Amy was rushed to hospital after suffering another health blow.
The professional dancer was diagnosed with a blood clot in her lung, but fortunately she is now recovering well thanks to blood thinning injections.
Amy explained: 'I take each day as it comes. I thought that once I rang the bell, everything would be fine, but it hasn't been like that, I find it a lot harder mentally now. The journey is not over yet.
'What I love most has been taken from me and I find that so cruel.'
As the cover star of Women's Health UK in December, Amy spoke about the life-changing ordeal she has faced since her cancer diagnosis in May.
The dancer insisted: “I just want to be treated like normal. When I walk out and I have my headscarf on, I don't want any sympathetic looks or pity on me – I'm Amy.
'Sometimes people don't know how to handle it. Just ask how I am – I will answer you. We don't want you to feel sorry for us. We embrace it. Stand strong with us…Don't look at me so pityingly – I don't need it!'
Speaking about her husband and former dance partner Ben Jones – who was there from the start with her Crohn's diagnosis – she added: 'Nothing will ever break us again!'
Ellie Leach became the youngest winner of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday, together with her professional dance partner Vito Coppola
The 22-year-old TV star defeated two other couples: Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell, and Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin.
Strictly speaking viewers were moved to tears when Amy returned to the show's dance floor during this year's finale on Saturday
Although she appeared in the program and its spin-off It Takes Two, she had not danced with her fellow professionals before the final.
Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May and had a mastectomy in July (seen in hospital)
On winning the glitterball trophy, the former Coronation Street star said: 'I really can't believe this.'
“For once you cry more than me,” she said to Vito.
She added, “This is for you, this is for you.”
Speaking about their victory, Vito said: “I mean, this is the icing on the cake.”
He turned to Ellie: 'You've been so great, you're Strictly, you represent Strictly. You're finally, you know, the diamond I was talking about.”