Amy Dowden’s twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living ‘carefree life’ while Strictly star battled Crohn’s and cancer as she says she ‘would’ve done anything to take the pain from her’

Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'

I can only imagine the emotional turmoil that Amy Middleton has gone through over the past year. From her diagnosis of cancer to her brave battle against it, she has shown immense strength and resilience. It must have been incredibly challenging not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally, especially when faced with cruel trolls who failed to show empathy or kindness.


Amy Dowden’s twin sister Rebecca admitted experiencing a sense of guilt because she managed to avoid severe health problems, while Amy faced battles with both Crohn’s disease and cancer.

In 2023, Amy, aged 34, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer just a day after returning from her honeymoon with her spouse, Ben Jones.

As I reflect on the most challenging chapter of my life, I find myself recalling a tumultuous period marked by a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatments, and a near-fatal battle with sepsis. This journey, filled with trials and triumphs, has left an indelible mark on me as a person and a professional.

The dancer shared that Rebecca’s assistance proved crucial throughout her treatment process. She confided that Rebecca was the very first person she contacted following her diagnosis.

In a recent shared interview with The Sunday Times, these two siblings spoke candidly about their strong relationship and how they serve as each other’s most devoted cheerleaders.

Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'

Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'
Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'

Reflecting on Amy’s initial Crohn’s disease flare-up at age 11, Rebecca shared her feelings of being overwhelmed and powerless as she witnessed her sister enduring intense pain and appearing so weak and fragile.

Amy found herself confined to the hospital, connected to an IV, while Rebecca embarked on her journey to become a midwife at university.

Rebecca confessed to feeling remorseful about being the fortunate one, able to experience things that Amy couldn’t, and she couldn’t comprehend how they had both come from the same womb, yet Amy had faced numerous challenges.

She expressed: ‘Being a twin, it’s challenging not to experience a feeling of guilt. I’ve enjoyed a life free from many worries. I experienced the typical adventures of youth – taking my first girls’ trip, going to university, traveling – but unfortunately, due to Crohn’s disease, Amy wasn’t able to share those experiences with me.’

Last year, when my friend received her cancer diagnosis, it left me utterly helpless, wishing I could alleviate her suffering. It’s baffling to me that, despite us having begun our lives together in the same womb, she’s shouldering such a heavy burden.

Currently, Rebecca serves as the head midwife in a delivery ward. However, she prefers not to delve deeply into discussions about her work due to the emotional challenges posed by the fact that Amy’s fight against cancer has left her unable to conceive children naturally.

As a dedicated follower, I understand the openness between us, yet, given my profession as a midwife, I tread cautiously when discussing my work. You see, dear friend, Amy’s upcoming fertility journey following cancer treatment is a sensitive matter, and I want to respect that.

In the early part of this year, Amy disclosed that she and her spouse, Ben, had produced and frozen five embryos for potential use later on.

Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'
Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'
Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'

Instead, the dancer shared that she’s unable to attempt pregnancy at this time as it could induce hormones linked to cancer growth within her system.

In the Big Fish with Spencer Matthews podcast, she shared that she was devastated upon hearing the phrase, “I’m sorry, Amy, you have cancer.” What made it even more difficult for her was the subsequent statement.

In just a few months after our wedding last July (2022), it’s already spring (2023) for us now.

In simpler terms, his subsequent statement was, “Now, let’s discuss your reproductive intentions as it turns out you have a type of cancer fueled by hormones. I wasn’t aware of this before, but it seems we’ll need to halt your hormone production.”

Sitting alongside my spouse, it was clear we were contemplating having kids. Hearing that news felt almost like a double blow to the stomach, perhaps even more challenging than hearing “you have cancer.”

However, Amy added, “The National Health Service provides a remarkable service. Once someone is diagnosed with cancer, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy, they are given the opportunity to retrieve their eggs and store them for later use.”

Occasionally, the body may not cooperate during cancer treatment, but for those precious two weeks, we made it work and successfully harvested embryos. As a result, we now have five tiny Amys and Bens.

The dancer commented, ‘I hope that in the near future, I’ll be able to dance again, but sadly, I must endure a waiting period due to the unfortunate reality of having hormone-induced cancer.’

Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'
Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'
Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'

During pregnancy, your body indeed produces hormones. Therefore, while it may not be the ideal timing, I hope that I will eventually have the chance for this experience.

As your trusted lifestyle guide, I’m eagerly anticipating sharing my personal journey through a challenging year in an upcoming BBC documentary set to air on Monday evening.

Amy Dowden’s memoir, “Fight of My Life,” will likewise reveal her experiences with heartless cyberbullying as she advocates for stronger measures against internet bullies.

In a private interview (with TopMob), emotional moments ensued as she spoke candidly about facing harsh criticisms, being labeled as a ‘self-centered individual’ and a ‘craving-for-attention person’, due to her public disclosures about her cancer journey.

She told how tough it was to receive such harsh messages, admitting sometimes she ‘wished she didn’t’ publicly open up to fans. 

Amy appears noticeably emotional while reading certain messages, expressing: “I’ve shared my story so often that I often wish I hadn’t.”

In that moment, I found myself utterly dismantled, with my sense of self and identity seemingly disintegrated.

‘Of course, I’d much rather have been dancing with my best friends on Strictly instead of dancing in my front yard about to shave my head.’

Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'
Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'

I confessed: “I was clueless about my own end goal. Reading those messages only made it tougher to face myself in the mirror.”

In a segment from the documentary, Amy addressed the camera: “Anyone battling cancer has enough struggles without dealing with internet bullies too. There’s no manual for handling this situation. It’s unique to each individual.”

Based on my own life experiences, I strongly believe that there’s no absolute right or wrong in many situations; what matters most is doing what feels right for us as individuals. In this chaotic world, I’ve learned that one of the best things we can do to make it a little less chaotic is by being kind. Kindness has the power to heal, bring people together, and create a more harmonious environment. So, let’s strive to be kind, not just because it’s expected or convenient, but because it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to make a positive impact in this world.

At the moment, the dancer is gearing up for the approaching season of Strictly, as she had to step away from it last year.

Amy has confessed that the thought of losing her job on the BBC dance show was her greatest fear. 

According to footage from The Sun, she shared that when she needed to inform Strictly, her concern was about maintaining her employment as it was the most terrifying aspect.

1. To excel in dancing, it’s crucial to maintain athletic fitness levels. I was apprehensive about the impact of treatment on my physical well-being.

Speaking about how her treatment left her drained, she said, “I was devastated. It took everything out of me for Strictly. I was deeply saddened because I longed to dance.”

Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'
Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'
Amy Dowden's twin sister Rebecca admits her guilt for living 'carefree life' while Strictly star battled Crohn's and cancer as she says she 'would've done anything to take the pain from her'

Previously, Amy mentioned that a year ago she had just got married and was preparing for her honeymoon, marking a fresh, thrilling phase in her life. However, discovering a lump in her breast shifted the course of her life.

At my current stage in life, I never envisioned experiencing cancer. Even with relatives and acquaintances who survived cancer, I was unaware of how profoundly it would affect me personally.

On this journey, I’ve gained profound insights into myself and the impact of a cancer diagnosis. My hope is that this film serves as an inspiration and source of strength for others, prompting everyone to regularly self-examine, regardless of their age.

Following the announcement of her comeback earlier this month, Amy expressed her joy on Instagram about resuming activities that she cherishes.

The happy news came just two days after she marked the one year anniversary of her first surgery following her diagnosis.

She expressed her joy and gratitude, saying, “I’m overjoyed to be back on @bbcstrictly! My heart is brimming with happiness.” She also added, “This team is simply outstanding, both on and off the dance floor.”

She added: ‘I can’t wait to be back doing what I love most in the world, dancing! Feel blessed and more excited than EVER. Bring it on! Thank you @bbcstrcitly for your support always. Eeeeeekkk #amysback.’

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2024-08-25 11:35

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