Amy Dowden, the renowned Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, has taken to social media to provide an encouraging update on her journey through cancer treatment, emphasizing her determination to face the challenges of hair loss head-on.
In a heartfelt announcement made this year in May, Amy bravely shared her diagnosis of stage-three breast cancer with her dedicated followers. Since then, she has maintained an unwavering commitment to transparency, chronicling her chemotherapy sessions through photos and videos, and recently discussing her choice to embrace wigs.
In a series of Instagram Story clips, posted shortly after her attendance at the National Television Awards, the 33-year-old dancer recounted her experiences. She revealed that her third round of chemotherapy had been notably smoother than the previous ones. This came as a relief after her initial round had to be cut short due to a severe case of sepsis, and the second round brought on the complications of three blood clots.
With her characteristic candor, Amy shared that following her latest chemotherapy session, she had experienced the usual side effects, including nausea, fatigue, painful mouth ulcers, and, most notably, hair loss.
Speaking while donning a stylish scarf, she expressed her feelings: “I can’t leave the house without covering my head now because, unfortunately, I have significant baldness on top.”
Amy acknowledged the outpouring of concern and support from her fans, who had inundated her with questions about her coping strategies amid the hair loss ordeal. She did not shy away from admitting that it had been an incredibly challenging experience.
The dancer disclosed that there had been moments of tears and emotional turmoil while grappling with the loss of her hair. She candidly revealed having had what she referred to as “meltdowns” during her weekly hair wash routine.
However, one significant source of solace for Amy has been her husband, Ben Jones, who has taken on the role of brushing her hair. This small but profoundly comforting gesture spares her the distress of witnessing her hair falling out, even though she remains aware of the process.
She reflected, “Having my husband help me with my hair has been a tremendous support because, if I were to remove this scarf, you would see that there’s hardly any hair left. But it’s okay.”
She drew inspiration from a well-known quote by Tom Hanks, drawing a parallel to her own situation: “As Tom Hanks says, ‘This too shall pass.'”
Amy recounted that after her harrowing experience with blood clots, she decided to stop brushing her hair herself to avoid further distress at the sight of her hair loss.
Amy Dowden’s resilience and candid sharing of her cancer journey continue to inspire many, shedding light on the importance of confronting challenges with determination and unwavering support from loved ones.