Amy Dowden received a standing ovation as she reunited with her Strictly co-stars ahead of a new series – amid her battle with breast cancer.
The professional dancer recently joined them for a photo shoot after filming one of their pre-recorded dances in front of a small group of fans when she saw them for the first time since starting her treatment.
Amy, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and started chemotherapy after doctors discovered she was also battling another form of cancer.
The Radio Times, which organized the shoot, which was watched by some fans, said: ‘It was an emotional moment – there were tears – and when she finally steps back on the ground, the watching audience of die-hard Strictly- fans gave her a spontaneous status ovation.’
Amy added while speaking to the publication: ‘I don’t actually think I could get through the next few months without Strictly.
Friendly: Amy Dowden received a standing ovation as she reunited with her Strictly co-stars ahead of a new series – amid her battle with breast cancer
Together: The professional dancer recently joined them for a photo shoot after filming one of their pre-recorded dances when she saw them for the first time since starting her treatment
“I will be part of the show in different areas. It’s the tonic I need right now.”
‘There are so many ways to be involved, and I guide them. I’m just really grateful that they’ve kept me involved and given me the support and encouragement I need.”
Graziano Di Prima said of the moment she came to the photo shoot: ‘To be honest, we didn’t expect that. The fact that Amy comes in here – there are no words to describe her power right now.
‘We are a family. You could see people from the production, and those working behind the scenes, and the lighting crew, and the audience – everyone together supporting her.”
It comes as Amy admitted this week that she can no longer bear to brush her hair after her chemotherapy treatments caused her locks to fall out.
She has been open about the side effects of the treatment, including hair loss, and admitted she found it difficult.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on Monday, Amy told her followers how she was doing and admitted it was “really hard.”
She said: ‘So many messages asking how I’m coping with the hair loss and I’m not going to lie, it’s really hard.’
Tough: Amy, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and started chemotherapy after doctors discovered she was also battling another form of cancer
Brave: It comes as Amy admitted this week that she can no longer bear to brush her hair after her chemotherapy treatments caused her locks to fall out
Trying to stay positive, she added: “I think I cry less now. At first it was every day, but now I have meltdowns if I wash my hair once a week.
‘I haven’t brushed my hair for the past two weeks and that has definitely helped.
‘I stopped brushing myself since I got out of hospital with the blood clots because I just got desperate when I saw how much was falling out.’
Amy explained that her husband and dance partner Ben Jones, who she married last year, has helped her by brushing her hair for her so she can’t see what’s falling out.
She explained: ‘I’m obviously aware of it, but I can’t physically see or hold the hair I’m losing and that helps me a lot.’
Amy looked stunning in the video, with her hair tucked under a purple and pink patterned scarf.
She said, “When I take off my scarf, you’ll see that there’s almost no hair left, but that’s okay. I keep telling myself, ‘This too shall pass.’
She then admitted, “This is definitely the hardest part for me personally,” but said she wasn’t ready to shave her head just yet.
She said, “I’ll get to that point…but I’m just not ready yet.”
On Tuesday, the dancer shared a health update with fans after her final round of chemotherapy.
Amy assured her Instagram followers that she was ‘coming through it’ as she shared the side effects she was experiencing.
She said: ‘I was a bit nauseous and tired but you can’t sleep because of the steroids. I have my steroid moon face, which I’m used to by now.’
But she stated that she “looked a lot more like Amy today.”
Amy previously opened up about her hair loss last month: ‘AAs much as I prepared myself when I woke up every day gently combing my hair with a wide tooth comb and seeing what came out, it’s just heartbreaking for me personally.
Tough time: The professional dancer has been open about the side effects of the treatment, including hair loss, and admitted she found it tough
Tough: Amy previously opened up about her hair loss last month, saying: ‘As much as I prepared myself by waking up every day, gently combing my hair with a wide-toothed comb and seeing what comes out, it’s just personally heartbreaking for me’
‘I only wash my hair once this week, twice max. I don’t use heat on my hair or straighten it, so I just don’t feel like myself.
“So it’s time to get out the wig I say and get used to it and help me feel like myself. I’m still Amy!
‘Some days last week I woke up and for the first few seconds you forgot about it and then suddenly it all hits you, the day and the challenges ahead and your new reality and it’s tough – had a few morning cries and learned that that is also good.’
She then thanked everyone for their messages of support, writing: ‘Thank you again for all the lovely messages asking how I am, I want to be open and honest and hopefully also help others going through it or those supporting them on their trip!’