Amy Dowden revealed she is still in disbelief as she opened up about having her final chemotherapy treatment last week on Instagram on Monday.
The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 33, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, and underwent a mastectomy in July, admitted the ‘relief is like no other’.
Amy beamed for photos with doctors and nurses at the Sheldon Unit as she rang the traditional end of treatment bell to celebrate.
The dancer was all smiles as she was surprised by family and friends at the hospital who wore matching pink T-shirts and bought balloons, flowers and cake for her.
The BBC star admitted it was her ‘toughest journey yet’ as she opened up about completing chemotherapy and thanked everyone for their support.
‘My toughest journey yet’: Amy Dowden revealed she is still in ‘disbelief’ as she opened up about having her final chemotherapy treatment last week on Instagram on Monday
‘Forever grateful’: The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 33, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, and underwent a mastectomy in July, admitted the ‘relief is like no other’
She penned: ‘Still can’t believe I had my last chemo on Thursday. The relief is like no other. But I couldn’t have got through it without these guys.
‘Honestly the Sheldon unit truly are real heroes. Selfless, hardworking, caring team who puts all their patients first and for me always kept me at ease when I would have my melt downs, doubts and worries oh and of course listen to all my stories ( mainly dancing). Will forever be grateful to you all!
‘But also my family and friends. You know who you are. The chemo club, to helping Ben and myself out with anything and everything. My parents for coming to stay and help every session.
‘I loved my surprise of you all being there with T-shirts, balloons, flowers and cake when I rang that chemo bell! THANK YOU!
‘My toughest journey yet but I did it. Honestly so many to thank but it’s so appreciated. All your love and support throughout this stage has been utterly amazing and I’ll never be able to thank you enough.’
Ahead of the big day Amy admitted she had been ‘crying all morning’ as she arrived for her eighth and final round of chemo with her husband Ben.
She later shared a photo of herself and two others who had also completed their chemotherapy treatment.
Amy, who was officially diagnosed with the disease in May, found a lump in her right breast in April, a day before she and her husband Ben Jones jetted off for a belated honeymoon to the Maldives after their wedding last July.
‘It’s chemo number 8! The last one! We are finally here. I’ve cried all morning!’ Amy told her Instagram followers alongside a photo of her and Ben about to enter the hospital.
Supportive: Amy beamed for photos with doctors and nurses at the Sheldon Unit as she rang the traditional end of treatment bell to celebrate
Surprise: The dancer was all smiles as she was surprised by family and friends at the hospital who wore matching pink T-shirts and bought balloons, flowers and cake for her
Family: The BBC star admitted it was her ‘toughest journey yet’ as she opened up about completing chemotherapy and thanked everyone for their support
Sweet: Amy’s family surprised her with a cake which had the breast cancer pink ribbon printed on top
Amazing: She penned: ‘Still can’t believe I had my last chemo on Thursday. The relief is like no other. But I couldn’t have got through it without these guys
‘Right an afternoon of chemo and then I’m so lucky and grateful to be able to ring that bell! Will never take it for granted! Thank you to the incredible Sheldon Unit! You are all amazing #nhs, all #trueheroes Right here goes! See you all later.’
Amy was later joined by two other ladies as ‘all three of us ring that chemo bell!’
‘32,35 and 26 when all diagnosed with breast cancer so please this is a note from us three to check your chest! Cancer doesn’t discriminate! Our wish to you all is the remember to monthly check! @kiimmbo.6 @kimberley_banfield’ Amy wrote alongside the momentous photo.
Amy confirmed last week that she would be completing chemotherapy, but explained she was facing further treatment.
Speaking in an Instagram video, Amy explained: ‘Four weeks after the last chemo, I have my MRI scan and then I find out if I need more surgery – or if I’m done.’
She added ‘well, I’m kind of not done, because for five years – I was a bit gutted when I found this out – I have to go back to the chemo ward.’
‘Obviously, I love all the nurses there, they’re incredible, the whole team are – but I have to go back and have an injection once a month. It’s either that, or have my ovaries removed, which I obviously don’t want.’
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?
What is breast cancer?
It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.
When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called ‘invasive’. Some people are diagnosed with ‘carcinoma in situ’, where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.
Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare.
Staging indicates how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.
What causes breast cancer?
A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply ‘out of control’.
Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign.
The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
- Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.
If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.
- Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour.
- Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
- Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying.
- Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the ‘female’ hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer.
How successful is treatment?
The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.
The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000
