Amy Dowden's Journey: From Strictly to Battling Cancer and Finding Strength

Amy Dowden's memoir, Dancing In The Rain, is a heartwarming story of her remarkable journey from being a young girl from Caerphilly, South Wales, to becoming a Strictly Come Dancing pro, and ultimately battling breast cancer at the age of 32. Despite facing debilitating pain due to Crohn's disease and being diagnosed with aggressive cancer, Dowden remains determined to live her life to the fullest and inspire others with her story. Through her book, she shares her experiences, love for dancing, and the importance of finding what fulfils you in life.

Key Takeaways:

• Amy Dowden was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 19 and was frequently hospitalised throughout her teens, but she refused to let her condition stop her from pursuing her dancing dreams.
• Dowden started dance lessons at the age of eight and was captivated by Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, setting her goal to participate in the show.
• Despite her family's resistance to her goal, Dowden persevered and eventually became a Strictly pro, forming a dance partnership with her husband, Ben Jones.
• Dowden's determination was fueled by her happiness in dancing and her desire to find a passion that would keep her going through tough times.
• After being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in spring 2023, Dowden shared her experiences with her fans on social media and used her platform to raise awareness about cancer and Crohn's disease.
• Dowden's love and support from her family and husband, Ben, played a significant role in her recovery and has been highlighted in her book.
• Dowden's outlook on success changed after becoming a dance partner with Ben, and she now believes that "love" is the key ingredient to success, as evident in their journey to becoming British National Latin Dance champions and overcoming her cancer diagnosis.

Statistics:

• Dowden was hospitalized 11 times at the age of 11 due to excruciating pain, sickness, and diarrhea caused by Crohn's disease.
• She was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 19.
• Dowden was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32 and underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and medically induced early menopause.
• The treatment for her cancer also involved blood clots and an infection that caused septic shock, leaving her fighting for her life.
• Dowden will require regular check-ups and injections for five years due to her breast cancer diagnosis.
• The average age for breast cancer diagnosis is 47 years, highlighting the alarming rate at which cancer is affecting young women like Dowden.

Sources:

• Amy Dowden, Dancing In The Rain (Piatkus, 2023)
• Strictly Amy: Crohn's And Me (2020 documentary)
• Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me (BBC documentary, 2023)
• Amy Dowden's social media accounts
• Piatkus Publishers