Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden praised for raising breast cancer awareness by experts who say there are many reasons why medics may recommend another mastectomy
Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden has announced she is to undergo another mastectomy despite having no new cancer diagnosis.
There are a number of reasons why medics may recommend this. A mastectomy is surgery to remove all of the breast. If you have one breast removed this is known as a single or unilateral mastectomy. If you have both breasts removed this is known as a double or bilateral mastectomy.
The professional dancer was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 at age 32. Now in a post in Instagram she has announced the surgery was not to treat a new cancer diagnosis – but came following an appointment with her “incredible” medical team.
Cancer Research UK states that your surgeon is most likely to recommend a mastectomy if you have any of the following:
- have a large tumour, particularly in a small breast
- have more than one area of cancer in your breast
- have large areas of cancer cells in the milk ducts of the breast
- Paget’s disease, which affects the skin around the nipple
- are pregnant and you can’t have radiotherapy
- have a health condition that may make it difficult for you to cope with the possible side effects of radiotherapy, such as pulmonary fibrosis, lupus or Ehlers-Danlos
- have had radiotherapy to the chest wall before
- have a type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer
- male breast cancer
- have a very high risk of developing breast cancer due to family history or a change in the gene (mutation)
Amy, now aged 35, told this weekend how she stared death in the face during her gruelling cancer battle after initially “thinking the worst”. She was given the all clear in February 2024.
The Welsh star said in her Instagram post: “As you all know I’ve always been very open about my health and the care I receive. So I’d like to start by being clear what I am about to share is not to treat a new cancer diagnosis.
“However, following a recent appointment with my incredible medical team, we’ve decided that I’ll be having another mastectomy this week. They’re confident that, all going well, I can expect a straightforward recovery. Once I have healed I look forward to rejoining my strictly family.
“Of course I’m going to miss not being there so much but I will be watching from home and look forward to cheering everyone on. Thank you always for all the support.”
Since being first diagnosed in 2023, Amy Dowden has since become one of the UK’s most recognisable advocates for early cancer detection.
Louise Grimsdell, senior clinical nurse specialist at the charity Breast Cancer Now, said: “Following a breast cancer diagnosis somebody might have a mastectomy on the unaffected side for a variety of different reasons. Choosing to have this surgery is a complex and deeply personal decision for each individual.
“This is why it’s vital that women are given information on their options and are supported by their treatment teams to make an informed decision that’s right for them.
“We do not know the reasons behind Amy’s decision to have another mastectomy but send her our support and best wishes as she prepares for her surgery.
“Amy has shown incredible courage in sharing her experience of breast cancer so openly, helping to raise awareness of the ongoing impact of a breast cancer diagnosis, including around treatment and the sometimes difficult decisions people need to make.”
For breast cancer surgeons could recommend a mastectomy operation or breast conserving surgery – known as a lumpectomy. This is when the surgeon removes the cancer with a surrounding border of normal breast tissue.
Caroline Geraghty, information nurse at Cancer Research UK, said: “We wish Amy Dowden all the best for her treatment and her recovery. Amy has done phenomenal work as part of sharing her cancer journey, and high-profile cancer cases can often encourage others to think more about their own health.
“If people spot something that’s not normal for them or isn’t going away, they should check with their GP. Spotting cancer at an early stage means treatment is more likely to be successful.”
Anyone looking for support can speak to Breast Cancer Now’s expert nurses free on 0808 800 6000 or visit breastcancernow.org for more information.
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