Strictly's Amy Dowden marks one year post-surgery, announcing inspiring book 'Dancing in the Rain'

Amy Dowden has marked a year since her first surgery following her cancer diagnosis where she was told she had stage three breast cancer in May last year.

The Strictly Come Dancing star revealed she discovered a lump in her breast in April 2023, just before jetting off to the Maldives for her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones, who is also a professional dancer. This led to her diagnosis of stage three breast cancer.

After undergoing a mastectomy, Amy bravely shared her journey through chemotherapy treatment. Despite some setbacks during her treatment, she received the uplifting news earlier this year that there was no evidence of disease.

However, due to the nature of her cancer, she won't receive the "all clear" until five years have passed.

Amy expressed her hopes of returning to the dance floor this year. Although she hasn't been overly active on social media, she did take to Instagram on Friday (June 7) to commemorate a year since her mastectomy and reconstruction surgery.

Posting a photo of herself in hospital where she can be seen giving a brave thumbs up from her bed, the Welsh dancer wrote: "Can't believe it's a year since surgery! Happy 1st birthday to my new cancer free boobie! ! ! " She then added a GIF encouraging others to "Check Yourself".

Amy Dowden has been creating quite the buzz with her latest venture, much to the delight of her fans. The Strictly star took to Instagram earlier this year to tease a new project, hinting at something "coming soon."

The professional dancer has now revealed that her debut book, titled 'Dancing In The Rain', is set for release later in the year. Sharing her excitement on Instagram Story, the-33-year-old posted an image of her hand resting on the title page, jazzing it up with a "coming soon" GIF and the caption: "Eekkk."

Amy has expressed her desire for her book to provide comfort and motivation to its readers. When she first announced her book on Instagram, she penned: "I'm so excited to share this... My book Dancing in the Rain is coming this September. I had such a blast shooting the cover and I can't wait to share my story with you."

She continued, reflecting on her passion for dance: "From my first dance lesson, I never wanted to be off the dance floor; when the music is on, nothing else matters, and it has been what has kept me going in the toughest of times. Despite facing the relentless challenges of undiagnosed Crohn's disease and recent breast cancer, my love for dance has remained unwavering."

In 'Dancing In The Rain', Amy intends to open up about her life's journey, offering hope and encouragement to those facing difficult times. She added: "In Dancing in the Rain, I share my deeply personal story, which I hope will offer solace and inspiration to anyone navigating life's storms. I want to remind you that no matter the challenge, the human spirit can prevail, and that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. Don't get bitter, get better!".

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