Strictly's Amy Dowden has shared a heartbreaking plea to her social media followers after suffering another blow. On Wednesday (January 28), the Welsh beauty, 35, urged fans to help support a close friend who has recently been diagnosed with stage four cancer. The professional dancer opened up about her own battles with cancer as she begged people to “please check yourselves,” as she warned that “cancer does not discriminate”.   

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the dancer explained that her friend Carrie is someone she knew from school before she shot to stardom as a ballroom dancer. She told fans: “Carrie, I went to year seven school with, before I moved schools, before dancing. My twin sister stayed right through secondary school with her.”

The dancer went on to praise her friend’s character, gushing that Carrie would “always message my sister to check in.” Ms Dowden went on to explain that Carrie had previously battled bowel cancer following colitis, undergoing chemotherapy and living with a stoma bag.  

The TV star explained: “She had brilliant scans showing no evidence of disease, but unfortunately, it has come back. It’s not curable, its stage four, but if you can help her and her gorgeous family, please, please do.” 

“She has two beautiful young boys, and she has set up a GoFundMe page as she wants to get a bit more time with her boys.” Dowden added that her friend is facing a pricey surgery fee as she appealed for donations.  

The TV star went on: “Her surgery is going to cost a lot of money. If anyone can help or give a little bit of a donation, that would honestly mean the world to Carrie and her family. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

The dancer, who announced last November that she had withdrawn from the 2025 series of Strictly to undergo a second mastectomy, also warned people to be vigilant about their health.  

She continued: “I think this is a reminder as well that cancer does not discriminate, and to check yourselves. If you feel different, or something’s not right with your body, you know your body better than anybody else, so please get it checked out.”  

Dowden has been open about her own breast cancer journey after she received the devastating diagnosis in May 2023. She discovered a lump in her breast in April 2023, just one day before leaving for her honeymoon in the Maldives with her husband.  

After returning to the UK, she was diagnosed with stage three aggressive breast cancer at the age of 32 and initially underwent a single mastectomy. Doctors later found further tumours of a second type of cancer, which led to more aggressive treatment, including eight rounds of chemotherapy.  

In February 2024, she announced that the tests showed “no evidence of disease”, though she remains under medical supervision and received monthly injections as part of her ongoing treatment. In November 2025, the pro dancer underwent a second mastectomy as a preventative measure, clarifying that it was not the result of a new cancer diagnosis.