Amy Dowden returns to Strictly Come Dancing following her battle with cancer

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden surprised viewers by making her first appearance back on the show since starting cancer treatment. The 33-year-old dancer from Caerphilly was diagnosed with cancer for the second time in July and has been sharing her journey on social media. On the show, Dowden gave an update on her chemotherapy treatment, stating that she was doing well and was over halfway through her treatment. She expressed her excitement about returning to the show permanently. Dowden made a surprise entrance on Saturday night's episode, appearing from behind a golden fringe wall with her head shaved and wearing a white glittery dress. Her fellow cast members warmly welcomed her back with cheers and chants of her name. Host Claudia Winkleman introduced Dowden as a special member of the Strictly family, expressing how much they had missed her and how happy they were that she was well enough to return. Co-presenter Tess Daly also shared her love and support for Dowden. Dowden's cancer diagnosis began with the discovery of a lump in her breast back in April, just a day before she was set to go on her honeymoon. After undergoing a mastectomy, she received the news that the cancer had spread and another type of cancer was found. Dowden faced further challenges when she ended up in the hospital with sepsis following a previous cycle of chemotherapy. Last month, she shared an emotional video of loved ones taking turns to cut her hair, stating that she felt empowered and positive after shaving her head. She wanted to share her truth and hopefully inspire and help others going through similar experiences. Dowden described shaving her head as the hardest step so far in her journey.