'We are by your side all the way': Amy Dowden is flooded with support from her Strictly co-stars after revealing her breast cancer diagnosis

Amy Dowden has been flooded with messages of support from her Strictly Come Dancing co-stars after revealing she's been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The dancer, 32, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share her shocking health news after finding a lump in her breast the day before her honeymoon in April.

In her post, Amy said she is determined to return to Strictly as soon as possible, but is waiting for further information about treating her cancer.

Amy wrote: 'Hey all, I've got some news which isn't easy to share. I've recently been diagnosed with breast cancer but I'm determined to get back on that dance floor before you know it. Welsh love Amy.' 

After sharing her diagnosis on Instagram, Amy was flooded with comments of support from her fellow Strictly professionals, and other celebrities who have competed on the show.

Kind: Amy Dowden has been flooded with messages of support from her Strictly Come Dancing co-stars after revealing her breast cancer diagnosis (pictured with Oti Mabuse)

Kind: Amy Dowden has been flooded with messages of support from her Strictly Come Dancing co-stars after revealing her breast cancer diagnosis (pictured with Oti Mabuse)

Dianne Buswell said: 'Our Welsh dragon is going to fight this !!!! and I can not wait for the moment you are back on that dance floor with us. We love you so much Amy.'

Oti Mabuse commented: 'Sending you love and power and all the strength - you're such an incredible woman love you Amy! Take care of yourself.'

Ellie Taylor, who competed on the show last year, said: 'Oh beautiful Amy. Sending heaps of love. Xxx.'

Giovanna Fletcher added: 'Love love love you. Xxxx.'

Karen Hauer posted: 'We love you and we are here with you in every little step . You are strong and you will beat this ♥️.

Neil Jones wrote: 'Amy, I know you will beat this 1 million percent. 

'Sending you all my love and positive energy. I can't wait to dance with you again on the dance floor.'

Former contestant Alex Jones wrote: 'Oh Amy! Thinking of you and sending you so much love. Cariad mawr.'

Sweet: The dancer was flooded with comments of support from her co-stars (Dianne Buswell pictured)

Sweet: The dancer was flooded with comments of support from her co-stars (Dianne Buswell pictured)

We're with you! After sharing her diagnosis on Instagram, Amy was flooded with comments of support from her fellow Strictly pros and stars who appeared on the show

We're with you! After sharing her diagnosis on Instagram, Amy was flooded with comments of support from her fellow Strictly pros and stars who appeared on the show

Former pro Kevin Clifton wrote: 'We love you sis. Ur the best. U got this,' while Katya Jones added: 'We're with you all the way! The strongest woman I know! Can't wait to have you in the dance floor real soon!!'

Strictly's 2018 winner Stacey Dooley commented: 'all the love sis x.'

Former pro and It Takes Two host Janette Manrara commented: 'If anyone one has the strength, it's you. We are all by your side all the way. Love you to the moon and back'.

2016 winner Ore Oduba said: 'Oh Amy. All our love, there is nothing YOU cannot fight. And what an almighty dance it'll be when you're back. So much love.'

Dr Ranj Singh, who previously competed on the show, said: 'Sending you HUGE love and strength darling! Always here if you need anything at all.'

Joanne Clifton wrote: 'Amy, sending you all the strength and power... we are all with you,' while Gemma Atkinson added: 'We're all Fighting behind you all the way Amy!!!!! Sending so much love to you.'

Strictly's head judge Shirley Ballas shared a lengthy message of support, writing: '@amy_dowden my precious girl. Nanny and I are thinking about you at this time. You are a strong example to so many of resilience which I've witnessed first hand. 

'A beautiful kind and funny young lady who will face things head on. You are sooo loved. I'll see you soon my darling friend hugs and lots of warm cuddles.'

Tyler West, who appeared on Strictly last year with Dianne Buswell, spoke about Amy's diagnosis on Wednesday's Lorraine.

He said: 'She's all right, Aims she's the Welsh dragon, she's a fighter, so strong, so inspirational, it was a massive shock the system for everyone to everyone this morning. 

'She is incredible, Amy, and I have no doubt she will be powering through it.' 

Strictly Come Dancing also released a statement sharing their support for Amy, with executive producer Sarah James saying: 'Amy is an exceptional person, both on and off the dance floor, and is adored by her entire Strictly Come Dancing family.

'Everyone on the show is sending Amy all our love and she knows that we are all here to support her, whenever she needs us.'

Amy told Hello! Magazine she found a lump in her right breast in April, a day before she and her husband flew to the Maldives for a belated honeymoon after their wedding last July.

The dancer said she was 'in shock' and decided to keep an eye on the lump, before going to the doctor when the lump grew on her return home.

She was immediately sent for an emergency referral, where she was told the lump looked 'suspicious' and to 'prepare for the worst'. 

Health: Amy took to Instagram to share her shock health news with her fans, after discovering a lump in her breast while on her honeymoon in April

Health: Amy took to Instagram to share her shock health news with her fans, after discovering a lump in her breast while on her honeymoon in April

After a biopsy, Amy was told she had grade three breast cancer, saying her first question was when she could get back on the dance floor.

Amy said her cancer has been caught 'early' and she is now waiting for more information before she is given a full treatment plan, which will include surgery.

She is waiting for an MRI scan and a biopsy after medics found a second lump in her right breast, and she will be given a full prognosis after that step.

Amy has dealt with an array of health struggles over the years after being diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 11.

She rose to fame on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, joining the host of professional dancers on the popular show.

She tied the knot with her husband last July, exchanging vows in front of their family and friends at a five-star wedding venue in the Gower Peninsula, South Wales.

What is breast cancer, how many people does it strike and what are the symptoms?  

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer develops from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.

When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissue it is called an 'invasive' breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.

Most cases develop in women over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare.

Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.

The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.

What causes breast cancer?

A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply.

There are some risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. 

The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.

For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000