Amy Dowden has said she is "gutted and heartbroken" in a fresh health update. The Strictly Come Dancing professional has revealed she has fractured her foot just days after finishing her last round of chemotherapy.
The 33-year-old has told her Instagram followers that the fracture means she will not be able to return to the ballroom this year as planned, a dream that had "kept her going" through the last few months as she battled breast cancer after finding a lump before her honeymoon. Amy posted a picture of herself at home in front of the fireplace as she pointed to a boot on her foot.
She captioned the image: "Not the week I was hoping for since finishing chemo. Port out but unfortunately gained a boot for a fractured foot."
READ MORE: Gogglebox's Dave Griffiths says wife Shirley 'deserves a medal' as couple are flooded with support
Posting two broken heart emojis, the Caerphilly-born star added: "Absolutely gutted and heartbroken as this means the plans for me to dance in the Strictly Ballroom this year are no longer possible. This is what has kept me going the past few months. 2023 is certainly not my year, roll on 2024 I say!"
Amy was inundated with support as 2023 Strictly contestant Amanda Abbington wrote: "Sending you the most love!!! Rest up, beautiful girl." While co-star Dianne Buswell commented: "Next year is yours !!!!! Thinking of ya my Amy xxx."
Alan Carr added: "Nooo!! Bloody hell Amy!!" as BBC It Takes Two host Janette Manrara added: "Oh no! Well in that case 2024 could not be coming sooner!"
Amy's fresh health update comes after she shared with her followers and friends that her chemotherapy treatment had come to an end. In an emotional video clip, Amy rang the bell on the Sheldon oncology unit to mark the end of that part of her cancer journey.
The video showed Amy in tears as she approached and shook the bell, the star wrote a lengthy and heartfelt message which read: "I rang the bell and I’m so thankful I got to!
"My toughest journey yet! These past few months I look back and think how did my body get through this both physically and mentally. From the words I’m so sorry Amy, it’s cancer and what’s your fertility plans. To having a mastectomy, two weeks later hormone daily injections for egg retrieval, a little Crohns flare up and then on to chemo plus shutting down my ovaries on the same day which sadly lead to sepsis, blood clots, losing my eyebrows, lashes (I have a few hanging in there) and three toe nails. But also it’s taken away my love of life these past few months and of course my DANCING!
"It’s been tough. But hopefully has now given me chance of more life which I’m eternally grateful for and I will never take for granted again. I’ll never be the same Amy again but, what I do know is I’m so much stronger than I ever knew and I have made the most amazing friends along the way.
"I hate looking in the mirror at the moment but I know this is a small price to pay and ‘this too shall pass’. I’m so grateful to the wonderful Sheldon oncology unit and my family and friends who have been there endlessly for Ben and I. We did it!" For more showbiz and television stories, get our newsletter here.
