Amy Dowden went through the 'ultimate low' after Strictly Come Dancing injury withdrawal in 2024
Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has revealed that she suffered the "ultimate low" on the 2024 series of the show when a foot injury cut her return to the programme following her breast cancer diagnosis short.
Amy Dowden came close to quitting dancing after she was forced to pull out of the 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing due to injury.
The 35-year-old star's return to the BBC show following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2023 was abruptly cut short due to a foot injury and she explained how it was only the support of her husband Ben Jones and fellow Strictly professional Carlos Gu that helped her through the "ultimate low".
In an interview with New magazine, Amy said: "I returned to Strictly, but I was feeling all the effects of chemotherapy, cancer, and I had no self-confidence
"I'd been pulled out of Strictly and was ready to hang up my dancing shoes, but it was Carlos and Ben, my husband, who gave me that tough love, that motivation to make sure I didn't.
"I was at an ultimate low. My husband and Carlos got my confidence back, made sure that the cancer didn't take my dancing away from me, along with everything else."
Since her breast cancer diagnosis, Amy has undergone chemotherapy and two mastectomies and she reflected on how the disease is a "life sentence".
The Strictly star – who was filmed getting a chemotherapy injection as she competes on the new series of Channel 4 show Celebrity Hunted - said: "I think people think that once you've rung the bell, your cancer journey is over. I was stupid enough to think that, but it really isn't.
"Unfortunately, a cancer diagnosis is like a life sentence, basically. I hope me showing this starts conversations with people at home."
Amy is joined on the run in Celebrity Hunted by Carlos, who revealed that he has forged such a close bond with his Strictly co-star because of his family's own history with cancer.
The Chinese dancer said: "The main reason we've so bonded together is the moment she had cancer. I felt it because my granny and my very close cousin, they both died from cancer. That was the moment that made me realise, 'Oh, I really love her.' I was devastated.
"I clicked with Amy on so many human levels. When I first came to the UK, Amy was one of the people who really helped me. So of course I was going to be there for her when she needed me the most."
