Strictly’s Amy Dowden shares ‘heartbreak’ over losing her hair due to chemotherapy as she issues health update after cancer diagnosis
Amy Dowden issued a health update on Sunday as she underwent her second round of chemotherapy.
The Strictly Come Dancing star, 33, recently revealed that doctor’s discovered she has ‘another type of cancer’ following her initial breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
In an emotional Instagram post, Amy revealed she is ‘heartbroken’ as her hair has started to fall out.
She told her followers: ‘Wanted to be open and honest with you all from the start. So this cycle, I started feeling sick soon as second lot of “red devil” was going in. Got home very tired and started being sick (even with all the anti sickness), by Friday afternoon the sickness stopped and just waves of nausea.
‘Still taking anti sickness now. Hardly any sleep due to steroids and insomnia they bring with them. Didn’t have any last cycle but some lovely mouth ulcer friends this time round.
Heartbreaking: Amy Dowden issued a health update on Sunday as she underwent her second round of chemotherapy
Devastating: In an emotional Instagram post, Amy revealed she is ‘heartbroken’ as her hair has started to shred
‘But I’ve managed some walks, lovely homemade soups and smoothies and feeling even better today. The little wins!’
Amy went into detail about the fact that she is beginning to lose her hair. She added: ‘What I’ve found harder this time round and the last few days is hair shredding(sic). Even though I’m cold capping you hope to keep 50 per cent of your hair and there are also many benefits to the hair growing back quicker too.
‘But as much as I prepared myself waking up everyday gently combing my hair with a wide comb and seeing what comes out, it is just heartbreaking personally for me. I’m only washing my hair once, max twice, this week, not using any heat on my hair or styling it so I just don’t feel like me.
‘So it’s time to bring out the wig I say and get used to this and help me feel like me. I’m still Amy! Some days last week I’d wake and for the first few seconds you forget and then suddenly it all hits you, the day and challenges ahead and your new reality and it’s tough – had a few morning cries and learning that’s OK too.’
She then thanked everyone for their messages of support, penning: ‘Thank you again for all the lovely messages asking how I am, want to be open and honest and hopefully help others going through or those supporting those on their journeys too!
‘Again thanks to my family, friends and you guys for my lovely messages, I read them all, just don’t always have the energy to reply but I want you to know it really helps, means more than you will ever know! Not taken for granted and really appreciated and noticed!
‘You truly see how lucky you are to have amazing loved ones around you! Love to you all.’
Health: The Strictly Come Dancing star, 33, recently revealed that doctor’s discovered she has ‘another type of cancer’ following her initial breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year
She told her followers: ‘Wanted to be open and honest with you all from the start. So this cycle, I started feeling sick soon as second lot of ‘red devil’ was going in.’
Amy went into detail about the fact that she is beginning to lose her hair. She added: ‘What I’ve found harder this time round and the last few days is hair shredding’
Earlier this month, Amy celebrated her 33rd birthday with her twin sister Becky and shared a throwback photo to Instagram.
She heartbreakingly admitted that ‘any milestone is a reminder’ at the moment and ‘it hurts’ as she is far from what she ‘should be doing normally.’
The dancer added that her birthday wish was fo everyone to check themselves as she works to raise awareness.
In the throwback photo from Amy’s wedding, she and Becky looked glamorous as they got ready for the big day.
She captioned the update: ‘Happy birthday to my beautiful, kind, talented twin! Hope your day is as lovely as you and for sure next year we are making up for it! Love you Bex and thank you for everything you always do for me.
‘I wasn’t looking forward to this birthday. At the moment any milestone or event is a bigger reminder and hurts.’
‘I’m far from what I should and normally doing, in the rehearsal room with my strictly family. But all your wishes this morning have certainly cheered me up. This year my birthday wish is for all to take the time to check themselves!
‘Coppa Feel have so many useful resources! Doesn’t take long! That’s my birthday wish! Thank you so much again for all the love and support it really does help and mean so much to me. Welsh love Amy x’
The previous week, Amy gave fans an emotional update after completing her first round of chemotherapy.
After undergoing the treatment, Amy offered a brave face to the camera as she smiled sweetly in her hospital bed.
Family: Earlier this month, Amy celebrated her 33rd birthday with her twin sister Becky and shared a throwback photo to Instagram
Upsetting: ‘I wasn’t looking forward to this birthday. At the moment any milestone or event is a bigger reminder and hurts,’ she wrote
Covered in blankets and wearing a cold cap, the star admitted the experience ‘wasn’t as bad’ as she thought and quipped that she was ‘one step closer to being back on the dance floor’.
Heading home, Amy also posed outside the hospital, holding up one finger.
Amy was first diagnosed with aggressive stage three breast cancer in May.
She found a lump while preparing for her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones in April and shared her diagnosis weeks later.
The professional dancer has since had an operation, a mastectomy and has had fertility treatment.
What is breast cancer, how many people does it strike and what are the symptoms?
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.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer develops 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 breast tissue it is called an ‘invasive’ breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with ‘carcinoma in situ’, where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.
Most cases develop in women over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare.
Staging means 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.
There are some risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps 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.
For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000
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