Amy Dowden, a Strictly star, bravely shaves her head following hair loss due to chemotherapy, documenting her emotional journey in a video as she confronts the most challenging hurdle in her breast cancer battle.

Amy Dowden has shared the emotional moment she shaved her head after losing her hair during treatment for breast cancer.

The Strictly Come Dancing pro dancer called it ‘the hardest step so far’ as she posted a heartbreaking video of herself surrounded by loved ones as her hair was cut off.

Amy explained how she was ‘taking control’ after feeling like she has had ‘so much taken away from me’ since being diagnosed with breast cancer in May.

The dancer, who has been forced to sit out the 2023 series of Strictly, said she wanted to reclaim her identity after missing so much of her life as a dancer.

With the help of family and friends, who all took turns cutting a lock of Amy’s hair, the dancer tearfully confronted her new look with a smile at the end of the emotional video.  

‘Hardest step’: Amy Dowden has shared the emotional moment she decided to shave her head after losing her hair during her treatment for breast cancer

Support: The Strictly Come Dancing pro dancer called it ‘the hardest step so far’ as she posted a heartbreaking video of herself surrounded by loved ones as her hair was cut off

‘This too shall pass,’ she wrote in the caption. ‘Taking control- The hardest step so far. I tried my best to save it. I know it’s only hair but these past few months I’ve had what feels like so much taken away from me that has made me not feel like Amy.’

‘I’m missing every possible aspect of dancing. I just wanted to keep my identity with my hair and I tried telling myself it wouldn’t go. But I would dread the pain of waking up to the shredding everyday.’

She continued: ‘I’ve not been able to take control of this journey so far, but as you can see with some of my loved ones I took the courage and CONTROL.’

‘It’s going to take some time to get use to and learn to love and embrace but, I’m now focussing-not on the hair I’m losing but the hair I’m going to get back and the happy dancing, tea lover who talks way to fast whilst rolling every rrrrr who is still there inside with or without hair!’

She added that she has also reached the halfway point in her chemotherapy treatment, explaining: ‘Since taking control, I feel I can now see the finish line. This for me was a hurdle I couldn’t even bring myself to think or speak about. I’ve done it and I’ve also crossed the half way chemo line!’

‘Im feeling empowered and positive! To everyone on their own journey, whatever that maybe, I’m sending love, power, strength and courage.

‘I found my courage for this step and I’m proud.’

‘(There are some fun before and after vids/reels coming, but I wanted to share the truth and hopefully help others, and bring normality to a beautiful bald head).’

Control: Amy explained how she was ‘taking control’ after feeling like she has had ‘so much taken away from me’ since being diagnosed with breast cancer in May

Looking forward: The dancer, who has been forced to sit out the 2023 series of Strictly, said she wanted to reclaim her identity after missing so much of her life as a dancer (pictured in January 2023 on the Strictly live tour)  

Messages: Amy was sent messages of support and love from her Strictly family with Dianne Buswell commenting: ‘You are still all the things you were before just with added courage’

Amy was sent messages of support and love from her Strictly family with Dianne Buswell commenting: ‘You are still all the things you were before just with added courage strength and determination one thing about you is that you don’t let anything take over!’

‘You always said to me i’m not amy with crohns i’m amy the dancer �� your still amy the dancer and always will be i can not wait to have you back on the dance floor with us chatting away making endless cups of tea! we all love you so much and i’m such a proud friend you are taking control.’

Graziano Di Prima added: ‘The strongest woman I ever met!! love you so much amy!!’ 

Last weekend Strictly paid an emotional tribute to Amy after the dancer was forced to miss the series’ glitzy launch on Saturday amid her cancer battle. 

Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly called her the show’s ‘Welsh Dragon’ as they dedicated the judges and professional dancers’ routine to her. 

Caerphilly-born Amy, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier in May and began chemotherapy after doctors discovered another type of cancer in her body, meaning she was unable to be paired with a celebrity for the new series. 

Ahead of the show-stopping routine Tess said: ‘We are of course, missing one of our professional dancers. 

‘Our gorgeous Amy Dowden is unwell and she can’t be with us for the start of the series.’

She went on: ‘But she is our Welsh dragon and we know she will be back soon.’

Claudia then interjected as she said: ‘Amy from all your Strictly family we are sending all our love and we cannot wait to have you back on the dance floor.’ 

Tess added: ‘This [dance] is for you!’.