Strictly star Amy Dowden announces she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer aged 32

Amy Dowden has announced that she's been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The 32-year-old has become a household name since she joined the Strictly Come Dancing team a few years ago.

During that time, she's partnered with a number of celebs, including television presenter JJ Chalmers, CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual, and most recently, CBeebies presenter George Webster for the Christmas special last year.

But Amy has now shared the upsetting news that she's been diagnosed with cancer.

In a post to Instagram, she explained that while it's devastating to hear, she's determined to get back dancing as soon as she can.

"Hey all, I've got some news which isn't easy to share," she said. "I've recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, but I'm determined to get back on that dance floor before you know it.

"Welsh love Amy x."

Instagram/@amy_dowden

Since sharing the diagnosis, Amy's fans have come out in force to offer their well wishes and support.

Piling into the comments, one follower said: "Sending you all my love and strength! Can’t wait to see you on the other side shining bright! You got this!"

Another wrote: "Brave girl! Thinking of you and sending all the strength and super powers your way."

"Sending love and strength Amy!" put a third. "You are a superstar and strong and brave! Thinking of you."

While someone else added: "Amy you are the strongest person I know. You will beat this. I truly believe you can. Sending all my love. You know if you need anything there’s a strictly hair and make up team that is right behind you with love and support."

Last week, tributes were paid to a young woman who died of cancer on New Year's Day after she appeared to have beaten the disease previously.

Lulu Blundell from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare type of cancer, when she was 15 years old in 2019.

Teenage Cancer Trust

This type of cancer affects bones and the tissue around them, and Lulu went in for eight months of chemotherapy between June 2019 and February 2020.

She also had her leg amputated as part of her treatment, and by September 2021 she was out of treatment and studying at university.

However, in April 2022 she felt a pain in her shoulder and went to A&E to find out what it was, and was told there should be nothing to worry about.

For a few weeks she thought it might have been a sports injury, but when she went in for a CT scan she was told that she had cancer again and had tumours in her shoulder, ribs and chest.

Lulu was also told that this cancer would be terminal, and she passed away earlier this year.