BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden says 'what a difference' as she recalls parent's struggle amid cancer diagnosis

Amy Dowden has reflected on the challenging year not just she but her family have faced after enjoying a well-deserved holiday with her husband Ben Jones and her parents. The Strictly Come Dancing star ditched the UK for Portugal last weekend.

Amy has been sharing updates on social media from the trip as she and Ben were joined by her beloved parents, Richard and Gillian, as they spent some quality time in the sun together

But there was one thing Amy was keen to let fans know, is that she never forgets to apply sun protection cream following her battle with cancer. Last May, the Welsh star was diagnosed with breast cancer and her treatment meant she couldn't take part in last year’s series of Strictly.

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While she appears to be enjoying her time away, she posted a snap of a tube of sun cream and captioned the post on her Instagram Story: "Always now! How cancer has changed me.".

Fast forward to Saturday and as the family rounded off their trip, Amy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last May before undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment, reflected on the 12 months that have since passed and shared her gratitude for fellow dancer Ben and her mum and dad.

Sharing a picture of the foursome as they enjoyed a glamourous boat trip, the dancer wrote on Instagram: "Thank you for the best time but everything you've done for me this past year! What a difference a year makes!"

Amy, 33, continued: "Mum and da was by mine and Ben's side every step of the way last year. Ben always joked when they was with us his towel had never been washed so much [cyring laughing emoji]. Cooking, cleaning, just being there for us, getting me out on long walks, hospital visits and navigating the best we could through the hardest of times.

"Both my mum and dad struggled with my diagnosis, leading them to being so stressed and upset to taking time off work which neither of them have done before and it was the hardest thing seeing the pain in their eyes as they relived it all years later from mum's diagnosis! But here we are a year on, and forever grateful to be here making the most of EVERYTHING!"

Meanwhile, it was recently announced that Amy will rejoin the cast of professional dancers on Strictly for the upcoming 2024 series. it comes after missing out last year while she had treatment and also suffered a broken foot, but did manage to make a couple of appearances during the live shows.

Reacting to the news of her comeback, Amy shared on Instagram: "I'm so happy and grateful to be back on @bbcstrictly. MY HEART IS SO HAPPY. The best team on and off the dance floor. I can’t wait to be back doing what I love most in the world, dancing! Feel blessed and more excited than EVER. Bring it on! Thank you @bbcstrictly for your support always. Eeeeeekkk #amysback #strictlycomedancing #letsdothis #excited #cantwait #myheartissohappy."