Amy Dowden reveals her hair has started to grow back after chemotherapy amid her breast cancer battle: ‘It’s helping me feel more positive’

Amy Dowden has revealed her hair is growing back after chemotherapy and admitted she is feeling more positive amid her battle with breast cancer.

The Strictly professional, 33, gave an update on Instagram on Wednesday after a short break from social media.

She told how although she is happy her hair is growing back, she is still adjusting to a new pace of life this year and needed a few days away after more hospital tests.

The star, who underwent her final round of chemotherapy 11 weeks ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer in May last year, posted new photos and video of herself online after ‘being a bit quiet’ online.

She showed off her new hair, eyebrows and eyelashes from different angles and thanked fans for their support.

In a first post she told them: ‘Hey hey, thanks for all the sweet messages over the past few weeks. Sorry I’m a bit quiet here. I needed some time and space.

“I still miss and long for what I was supposed to be doing, but I’m starting to accept that I have to be patient. After a crazy week of hospital tests and apts last week Ben and I went away for a few days and it’s just what we both needed.

“I hope 2024 treated you all well. Thanks again for all the love and of course I have to remind you: have you checked yourself yet this year? If you don’t check it.’

Amy then showed off her hair growth from different angles and said: ‘Also so grateful for the hair growth so far. My eyelashes and eyebrows are back and the hair is growing.

‘This is for anyone undergoing treatment. “Remember, I keep telling myself that this too shall pass. This is 11 weeks since my last chemo.

“So far…I can’t believe it. The growth felt so slow, but looking back it’s surreal and it helps me feel more positive.”

It comes after Amy admitted she felt ‘bitter’ seeing others’ 2023 highlights on New Year’s Eve, amid her battle with breast cancer.

She appeared on Lorraine as she opened up about how she felt entering 2024 and her “jealousy” at seeing posts.

Amy discovered a lump in her breast the day before she left for a belated honeymoon with husband Ben in the Maldives last April.

The dancer announced in an Instagram post shared in May 2023 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy in July.

Since then, Amy has been regularly sharing health updates on Instagram. During her chemo treatment, she at one point suffered from sepsis and a blood clot in her lung.

Speaking about Lorraine in an update in early January, she candidly said: ‘After New Year’s Eve, when you wake up and see everyone’s messages, I was actually quite bitter.

‘My life changed the day I was diagnosed, but cancer changes you forever, it has changed me as a person.

‘I’ve lost a breast and my hair, I’ve had sepsis, I’ve been in shock, blood clots, I’ve broken my foot. I saw everyone making these beautiful windmills and, to be honest, I was quite jealous.”

Just after finishing chemotherapy last fall, Amy unfortunately broke her foot and has been in a boot ever since.

On Lorraine, she gave an update saying she would go back to the doctors to get it checked out.

She explained: ‘I’m going back this afternoon to visit the fracture clinic. When you get chemotherapy it can slow down the healing of your bones and make your bone density weaker, so I’ll get some answers, but I can’t wait for it to wear off.”

Amy hopes to return to Strictly this autumn and has already expressed her hopes for her next pairing.

She said on the daytime TV programme: ‘I would like to be paired with Hugh Jackman or Ben Shephard. I heard he has sparkly toes!’

In her late 2023 post Amy reflected on “experiencing rock bottom” during the year, telling her Instagram followers that she felt “robbed of the year I had planned.”

Amy wrote: ‘Last day of 2023! I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I actually find it difficult to look at other people’s posts from the past year.

‘I’m sure I’m not the only one and that’s why I wanted to create something. I feel like I’ve been robbed of the year I planned and when I think about it I get upset and angry, but later I’m going to let myself look through my camera roll and remember all the good times, the great opportunities I had , family time, but also taking the time to realize that I have learned the most this year.

‘I experienced a low point, felt I lost my identity and dancing BUT became a stronger, braver person that I will take with me into 2024. For those struggling to think today, remember that it’s okay’

‘Feeling much better after a little cry this morning and blessed to celebrate GOOD BYE to 2023 with friends tonight! Sending love and hugs to those who need it! (And please), since it’s the last day of 2023, why not #checkyourchests.’

Amy then shared a series of photos documenting her year.

To ring in 2024, she also presented a New Year’s Eve morning program on BBC Radio Wales, revealing her ambitions for 2024.

‘So obviously I started the year with the Strictly trip, the arena tour, which I absolutely loved.’

‘After a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatment and so on, I’m finally looking ahead to 2024 and I have a good feeling this is going to be my year and hopefully I get that Glitter Ball and I’m going to bring it back to Wales because a professional dancer from Wales never won the show.

‘Maybe that’s because I’m the only Welsh professional dancer in the show.

‘But yeah, that’s my goal for 2024, to get fit and healthy and get myself back on that Strictly dance floor.’

Amy celebrated her final round of chemotherapy in November and rang the traditional end-of-treatment bell to celebrate.

Amy confirmed she would complete chemotherapy, but explained she faced further treatment.

In an Instagram video, Amy explained: ‘Four weeks after the last chemo I have my MRI scan and then I’ll find out if I need another surgery – or if I’m done.’

She added: ‘Well, I’m not done yet because for five years – I was a bit gutted when I found this out – I have to go back to the chemo unit.’

‘Obviously I love all the nurses there, they’re incredible, the whole team is – but I have to go back and get an injection once a month. It’s either that or have my ovaries removed, which I obviously don’t want.’