Amy Dowden Attends Chemo, Urges Fans to ‘Be Kind’ After Controversial Pairing

Strictly’s Amy Dowden attended her monthly chemotherapy appointment to keep her breast cancer in remission before jumping straight back into training on Monday.

The dancer, 35 was diagnosed with disease in May 2023 and underwent treatment including a mastectomy before being given the all clear by doctors in February 2024.

Taking to her Instagram Stories Amy shared a snap from the Good Hope Oncology Ward in Birmingham, just hours after begging fans to be kind following her and controversial pairs Thomas Skinner’s dance floor debut. 

Sharing a snap of herself on the ward she wrote: ‘It’s that time again, monthly [injection] on the oncology unit then straight back to training. 

‘Week 2 and I can’t wait. Monday reminders, grateful, happy, alive and always be kind’. 

It comes after Amy shared a heartbreaking message about being kind following reports Thomas was being protected by Tom Holland’s ex-bodyguard after receiving death threats.

The Essex businessman, 34, who found fame after appearing on Lord Sugar’s The Apprentice, has become the most controversial signing on Strictly this year, with his appearance being overshadowed by his revelation that he cheated on wife Sinead.

Thomas confessed to Daily Mail’s Katie Hind this week that the cheating scandal has been ‘awful for my poor wife to read it all’ as he came clean on the affair.

Taking to her Instagram Amy shared clips from her BBC documentary on her cancer battle, which also saw her deal with negative comments, alongside a lengthy caption. 

She penned: ‘As we step into a new week, let’s choose to be kind, always’

‘I was raised to treat others the way I’d want to be treated, and to never judge a book by its cover. We never really know what someone else is going through. But what I do know is how upsetting it can be to be on the receiving end of negative comments’.

She continued: ‘I’m using my platform to hopefully help spread the right messages. Words matter! Online and offline. A cruel comment might take seconds to type, but its impact can last much longer’. 

‘I remember a coach once telling me, it’s like a nail hammered into wood, even if you remove it, the mark will always be there. There are so many young people online today please be the kind of role models they need’. 

Before adding: ‘Let’s be the reason someone smiles, not struggles. Also I can’t believe it’s two years exact today I was sat in the hospital bed showing these messages to my lovely nurse. Welsh love alway’.

In the comments Thomas gushed: ‘You are an amazing person’.

While Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse wrote: ‘It’s sad in all honesty you realise that people hate themselves and their lives … The only reason to go online and be disgusting. we keep shining nonetheless’.

After making her return to Strictly in September 2024 with JLS star JB Gill, Amy was forced to withdraw on week six due to a foot injury. 

She recently opened up about the ‘pressure’ she put on herself to return before admitting she hadn’t properly ‘accepted’ everything after her cancer treatment. 

She told The Mirror: ‘Last year it was a lot of emotions, excitement but I think also pressure that I had put on myself.

‘I wasn’t confident in myself really deep down, I think I was still trying to accept everything. I didn’t look the same, with my hair growing back, you could see a difference in me.’

Meanwhile Thomas put on a brave face as he hit the dance floor with Amy on Saturday night, with his wife Sinead no where in sight to support.

The TV star, who performed the Paso Doble and received 16 points from the judges, said: ‘I was scared at the start, Amy has been a great teacher. She’s fantastic.’

Critics on X branded Thomas’ performance ‘the worst’, while other fans felt Thomas ‘did well’ considering it was a ‘difficult’ dance for a beginner like himself. 

His political leanings have also sparked backlash across social media after he was pictured attending a barbecue hosted by US President Donald Trump’s number two, JD Vance – something he later called a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ event.

Thomas has drawn strong criticism for X posts saying it is ‘not far-right’ to be ‘flying your flag and loving your country’, and complaining ‘it ain’t safe out there any more’ in London, saying the city is ‘hostile’ and ‘tense’.

Insiders revealed that Strictly bosses have been left in a ‘tricky’ situation regarding his social media posts.

‘He’s not BBC staff so there is nothing that can be done about his social media posts other than ask his management to have a gentle word, and they might not want to,’ the source has explained.

The insider added though that it’s unlikely Thomas will be voted out of the hit BBC show early, ‘because the public tends to like controversial figures, at least at the start.’

They added that Strictly’s decision to pair him with one of the show’s favourite pro dancers will be beneficial.

‘The feeling is he’s unlikely to be among the first to go, and could actually stay in for quite a stretch. Amy has a lot of love behind her and that is sure to help him,’ the insider told The Mirror .