Amy Dowden tearfully reveals missed cancer recovery milestone
The Strictly Come Dancing pro told Lorraine she was heartbroken to be missing a celebration dance to mark a year since finishing chemotherapy.
Watch: Strictly's Amy Dowden emotional over missed milestone in cancer recovery
What did you miss?
Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden has tearfully shared her heartbreak at missing a celebration she had planned for the BBC show to mark a milestone in her cancer recovery.
The dancer was supposed to perform a joyful Samba on Saturday to mark a year since she rang the chemotherapy bell for the end of her breast cancer treatment, but has been forced to drop out of the series with a stress fracture. Her partner JB Gill will perform the routine with replacement Lauren Oakley instead.
Dowden added to Lorraine that a win on Strictly this year had been being able to take part again, as far as she was concerned, and added that she was used to bouncing back from health woes.
What, how and why?
It's been a devastating week for Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden, who has been forced to drop out of the series while she recovers from a stress fracture.
Strictly had meant more than usual to Dowden this year as it saw her return to the BBC One contest after a year off going through treatment for breast cancer, and now the dancer has told Lorraine this was a particularly tough week to leave as she was supposed to celebrate a year since ending her chemotherapy with a "joyful" dance.
Dowden was tearful as she said: "On Saturday, the 9 November, it's a year since I rang the chemo bell. I had the Samba, the joyful, carnival dance. The way I planned the series JB's got the most phenomenal dances because he's got so much natural body rhythm. I just knew it was going to be fantastic."
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Cancer patients going through chemotherapy are often invited to ring a bell on a hospital ward when they complete their treatment, and Dowden had shared an emotional video of herself completing the milestone last year.
She broke down in tears as she added: "Saturday's going to be tough because I really want to be dancing on that floor to show myself how far I'd come in one year."
Dowden said of returning to Strictly: "When I had that diagnosis, that was the absolute goal of mine, that's what got me through my treatment. That was my dream, my goal and I'm so proud I did get back there."
The star also has Crohn's disease and suffered a broken foot last year shortly before the series began.
She said: "I've had a lot of setbacks in my life, I'm used to having to pick myself back up and the saying 'don't get bitter, get better' I tell myself, and 'this too shall pass'. Right now I'm heartbroken, but I'll feel better soon."
As host Lorraine Kelly told her she had thought it might have been her year to win Strictly, Dowden replied: "I've got to remember, the Glitterball for me was no evidence of disease and getting back on the dancefloor."
Speaking about her dance partner, JLS singer JB Gill, she said: "I'm heartbroken. I'm going to do my best not to cry. I know lots of people say it's just an entertainment show and I know we were prepared every week that we could be in that dance off but I'm gutted that it's ended this way, I feel I've let JB down."
"I'm really hoping he's at Blackpool because that dance there, it's just so exciting," she added.
What else has Amy Dowden said about her Strictly exit?
Dowden gave her first TV interview to Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two on Wednesday evening where she broke down in tears as she spoke about the stress fracture that had led to her departure.
Asked by host and former Strictly pro Janette Manrara what returning to Strictly after cancer had meant to her, Dowden became emotional as she replied: "It was everything."
She paused to compose herself as Manrara reached over to hold her hand. "Sorry, I am heartbroken," she said. "Being back with the Strictly family was the best rehab."
"I am just gutted because I was just having the best best time," she added. "You know what it's like. It's such an incredible experience and to have had it unfortunately cut short like this is just, it's heartbreaking.
"But I only know too well that this too shall pass, and I will be there cheering everybody on."
Lorraine airs on ITV1 at 9am on weekdays.