Strictly Come Dancing’s beloved Amy Dowden shared devastating news on her Instagram story, stating: “I truly hate cancer.” The BBC professional dancer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. After undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment, Amy, 34, announced in February 2024 that tests showed “no evidence of disease”, allowing her to make her triumphant return to Strictly in September 2024.

Despite Amy’s steady and positive journey towards being cancer-free, she revealed that a fellow patient she had befriended during her treatment had tragically lost her battle with the disease earlier this year. In her Instagram story, Amy expressed: “Life is cruel and I truly hate cancer!”

“A beautiful soul, Hannah, I met during treatment. Our appointments always aligned and we’d have a good natter and put the world to rights.”

Amy explained that she had previously mentioned Hannah during an appearance on ITV’s Loose Women, after which Hannah “immediately messaged me to say thank you”.

She added: “Hannah like me had breast cancer. We spoke so much about our lives after cancer and I remember when I saw her during my trek (had to come back for injection) she told me she wanted to join me on one next year to give back.

“I was six months ahead of her so she would always be asking me questions and she was just the most genuine, dedicated mother and soul. I’ve just received a message from Hannah’s friend to tell me Hannah passed last Tuesday.”

The devastating news has deeply affected Amy, who expressed: “This has knocked me but also knowing she’s left two beautiful twin girls behind who already have lost their dad to this awful disease. You will live on through them Hannah.”

Amy is resolved to do something special for the twins, now orphaned by cancer, and mentioned a GoFundMe page has been set up in honour of Hannah.

She stated: “The news has hit me quite hard. I’m gutted and angry. RIP beautiful Hannah. What a woman!” This comes as Amy continues her own fight, receiving ongoing preventative treatment at the hospital.

On social media, Amy shared a photo from her hospital visit, with the caption: “And we are back for the first one of 2025 at the Sheldon Oncology Unit. Don’t enjoy these… but if they keep that cancer away it’s worth it! Plus always lovely to catch up with the unit.”