Cliff Notes – Amy Dowden admits she ‘wouldn’t be here now’ without Strictly partner Tom Fletcher
- Amy Dowden credits her former Strictly Come Dancing partner, Tom Fletcher, with helping her discover her breast cancer, stating that his involvement with cancer charities led to her diagnosis.
- Following a challenging treatment journey, including chemotherapy and a mastectomy, Dowden announced she is facing another surgery but remains optimistic about her recovery.
- Dowden expressed gratitude for her time on Strictly, highlighting how performing in the final group dance provided her with hope during her battle with cancer.
Amy Dowden admits she ‘wouldn’t be here now’ without Strictly partner Tom Fletcher
Amy Dowden has revealed how one of her former Strictly Come Dancing partners ‘saved her life’.
The professional dancer, 35, was diagnosed with cancer in May 2023 and underwent a gruelling treatment programme including chemotherapy and a mastectomy, before revealing in February that doctors had found no further sign of the disease.
At the time, Amy explained that she wouldn’t get the official ‘all clear’ until five years down the line, and that she’d still need treatment.
But earlier this week Amy – who was the first to be voted out of Strictly this year with partner Thomas Skinner – has revealed that she is facing another surgery after consulting with doctors.
On Wednesday night, Amy appeared on It Takes Two, where she took a look back at her career and also spoke about her cancer diagnosis.
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When speaking about being paired with McFly’s Tom Fletcher in 2021, Amy said that their partnership ‘saved her life’.
Amy Dowden has shared how Tom Fletcher helped ‘saved her life’ (Picture: BBC/ Guy Levy)
They competed on Strictly Come Dancing together in 2021 (Picture: PA)
‘Tom and (his wife) Giovanna worked very closely with breast cancer charities and that is what lead to me finding my tumour and being diagnosed with cancer,’ she explained.
‘Without Tom, I wouldn’t be here now.’
Amy then went on to share that after she’d finished her treatment in November, she was given the chance to return to the BBC show as part of the final group dance.
‘Strictly was amazing and still found a way for me to be part of the show,’ she said.
Holding back tears she explained: ‘Being able to perform in that number gave me hope and it was what I needed. It just was everything.’
Earlier this week Amy revealed she is undergoing another masectomy (Picture: Amy Downden/ Instagram)
Speaking about her first performance on this year’s show, she went on: ‘I was back and in full force. It was like strong and powerful and sexy version of Amy, and I was in pink to represent breast cancer charities. All my family were in the audience, and they were crying their eyes out. It was the first time they’d watched me since everything, and it was like I was back and home.’
After the package played, host Janette Manrara sent a message to Amy from the Strictly family, saying: ‘From everybody at It Takes Two, we wish you a speedy recovery.’
When sharing details about her second mascetomy this week, Amy explained: ‘As you all know I’ve always been very open about my health and the care I receive. So I’d like to start by being clear what I am about to share is not to treat a new cancer diagnosis.
She announced the news of her surgery on social media (Picture: Eamonn M. McCormack/ Getty Images)
‘However following a recent appointment with my incredible medical team, we’ve decided that I’ll be having another mastectomy this week. They’re confident that all will go well and I can expect a straightforward recovery.
‘Once I have healed I look forward to rejoining my Strictly family. Of course I’m going to miss not being there so much but I will be watching from home and look forward to cheering everyone on. Thank you always for all the support.’
Fellow Strictly stars showered her with support, as Karen Hauer said, ‘Sending all the love,’ while Jowita Przystał also sent ‘lots of love’.
Breast cancer symptoms
The first symptom of breast cancer that most women notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast.
You should see a GP if you notice any of the following:
a new lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast that was not there before
a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
a discharge of fluid from either of your nipples
a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
a change in the look or feel of your skin, such as puckering or dimpling, a rash or redness
a rash (like eczema), crusting, scaly or itchy skin or redness on or around your nipple
a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Via NHS.
Giovanna Fletcher wrote, ‘Love you!!’ while McFly’s Tom Fletcher – who was paired with Amy on the BBC show in 2021 – wrote: ‘All the love to you my wonderful friend.’
‘We love you Amy,’ added Diane Buswell.
Amy previously spoke about how being involved with Strictly saved her life after a charity walk prompted her to keep a closer eye on her breasts.
‘Ultimately, Strictly saved my life,’ she told the Radio Times, looking back on the time when she worked with the breast cancer charity Coppafeel with her Tom and Giovanna.
She is married to professional dancer Ben Jones, with the pair recently celebrating their three-year anniversary (Picture: Karwai Tang/ WireImage)
In 2022, the pair hiked around the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales to raise money for breast cancer research, and that encouraged Amy to keep a closer eye on herself.
‘I was 32 years old. I was a physically fit dancer on Strictly, I’d just got married. Mammograms don’t start until you’re in your 50s. [But] I met some incredible people on that trip who’d had breast cancer in their 20s.’
She continued: ‘I was thinking, “I’m being a hypocrite, trekking to raise awareness for checking yourself and I don’t even do it!”’
So, she started regularly checking herself and a few months later Amy found a lump and was diagnosed with breast cancer.
What is a mastectomy?
A mastectomy is surgery to remove 1 of your breasts. A double mastectomy is where both breasts are removed.
Sometimes you may choose to have a mastectomy to prevent breast cancer if you’re at high risk of getting it, or to treat a breast cancer diagnosis.
It is estimated that around one in 4 people diagnosed with breast cancer will have a mastectomy.
During a mastectomy:
The surgeon will usually make a cut (incision) from your armpit to the middle of your chest.
The amount of breast you have removed will depend on the type of mastectomy you’re having. Usually your breast, and sometimes the lymph glands in your armpit, will be removed. Often, the skin around your breast and your nipple are also removed.
In February 2024 Amy happily revealed doctors couldn’t find cancer in her body following treatment.
‘NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE! Words I dreamed of! My biggest accomplishment yet!’ she posted on social media, explaining: ‘I won’t be getting the all clear for 5 years especially with a hormone fed cancer. But it was all worth it. Words I never thought I’d hear at one point.
Amy added that she will ‘still need a monthly injection for five years and regular check-ups.’
As well as undergoing chemotherapy, in her documentary titled Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me, Amy revealed she was ‘put into menopause’ to treat the cancer, as it was ‘hormone-feeding’.
Amy, who’s married to fellow dancer Ben Jones, therefore decided to freeze her eggs before undergoing chemotherapy.
‘Your eggs, your ovaries, everything can be damaged and not necessarily reboot again,’ she outlined.
How to check for signs of breast cancer
CoppaFeel! offers these simple steps on how to check your own chest for signs of cancer.
Look
Look at your boobs, pecs or chest.
Look at the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in size, outline or shape and changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling.
Feel
Feel each of your boobs, pecs or chest.
Feel the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling, or any lumps, bumps or skin thickening which are different from the opposite side.
Notice your nipples
Look at each of your nipples.
Be aware of any nipple discharge that’s not milky, any bleeding from the nipple, any rash or crusting on or around your nipple area that doesn’t heal easily and any change in the position of your nipple
The dancer continued: ‘You produce so many hormones when you’re pregnant, I’d be at such a high risk of my cancer returning.
In 2023 Amy was left ‘unresponsive’ after going into septic shock following her first round of chemotherapy, leaving her close to organ failure.
Amy did start responding to new antibiotics, and later explained how tough it was seeing her parents and Ben’s pain afterwards.
She recalled: ‘I saw the pain in my parents’ eyes, and I don’t think they’ve been the same since.’
It Takes Two airs weeknights at 6.30pm on BBC Two. Strictly Come Dancing continues at 6.25pm on Saturday on BBC One.
A version of this article was originally published on November 3, 2025.
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