Thomas Skinner lovingly called Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden his ‘little cancer warrior’ in a new Instagram post on Wednesday. He shared the post to help raise awareness for breast cancer.
Professional dancer Amy, 35, received a diagnosis of a disease in May 2023. She had treatment, including a mastectomy, and thankfully, doctors confirmed she was cancer-free in February 2024.
The Strictly star, 34, who is currently dancing with Amy on the BBC show, shared that he once painted his nails pink six years ago as part of a campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Thomas enthusiastically praised his dance partner, Amy, calling her a ‘living legend’. He also emphasized that men are also susceptible to certain illnesses and encouraged them to perform self-exams, specifically checking their breasts.
He shared a photo of himself with pink nails, along with a caption explaining it was from six years ago. He’d painted his nails pink to support breast cancer awareness.
It’s been six years, and now I’m dancing on Strictly Come Dancing with the incredible Amy Dowden, a true cancer warrior. Amy has bravely fought breast cancer and has been instrumental in raising awareness about the disease.
She truly is an icon. Just a quick note for everyone – men should also be aware. Remember to regularly check your breasts for any changes. Stay well, everyone, and sending you all my love. Bosh.
Amy immediately went to the comments section to express her gratitude to her partner for their support, before they resumed practicing their next dance routine on Strictly Come Dancing.
I just received the sweetest message! Someone said, ‘Thanks partner for all your support! These kind lovely words!’ It really made my day. Now, I’m excited to have a great time on Lorraine, then it’s back to work – and more fun – at the dance studio! xxx
People quickly responded in the comments, applauding Thomas for raising awareness about the disease among men. They also gently corrected him for referring to Amy as a ‘little warrior,’ suggesting that ‘absolute fierce warrior’ was a more fitting description.
They wrote: ‘Brilliant post, especially saying about Men as so many are unaware they can get it;
Amy isn’t small or insignificant; she’s a remarkably strong and resilient woman, much like everyone who has bravely battled cancer – truly fierce warriors!
‘She’s a legend @amy_dowden’.
At the same time, Amy used her Instagram Stories to post an old photo of herself in the hospital. She explained she’d gotten ‘another infection’ while undergoing cancer treatment.
She shared: ‘It’s been two years since I was hospitalized again due to an infection! I was so relieved when they gave me the okay to go home – you can see my thumb up in the picture! ‘
‘Two years later here I am happy, stronger, and doing waht I love with a day of dancing ahead!
Honestly, if I didn’t take my health into my own hands, things could be very different. It really makes you think – if *you* aren’t prioritizing your well-being, who will? It’s a stark reminder that cancer doesn’t discriminate, and being proactive is so important. I always encourage people to be their own best advocate when it comes to health checks.
On Wednesday, Amy and Thomas were guests on ITV’s Lorraine, where they also worked to increase understanding of the condition.
During the interview, Amy shared that she wouldn’t have been able to handle the demanding dance routines she’s currently performing on Strictly last year, describing the experience as very ‘full on’. She explained she simply wouldn’t have been able to cope with that level of intensity at that time.
She explained that Saturday’s schedule was incredibly demanding, saying her body wouldn’t have been able to handle it. She added that she was pushing herself further than she ever imagined on Strictly Come Dancing, but that her partner was very supportive and strong.
Following her comeback to Strictly in September 2024, partnered with JLS’s JB Gill, Amy had to leave the competition during week six because of a foot injury.
I was really moved when she recently shared how much pressure she felt to get back to things quickly. She admitted that, looking back, she hadn’t fully accepted where she was at after going through cancer treatment. It was so honest of her to talk about that – it really resonated with me.
She shared with The Mirror: ‘The previous year was filled with many feelings – a mix of excitement and, honestly, a lot of self-imposed pressure.’
To be honest, I struggled with self-doubt for a long time, and I think I was still coming to terms with everything that had happened. It was hard, because even though I was trying to move forward, I could *see* the changes in myself – especially with my hair growing back. It was a visible difference, and it made it difficult to fully accept the new me. I just wasn’t quite there yet, and it was a process of learning to embrace those changes.
On Monday, Amy went to her regular chemotherapy appointment to help maintain her breast cancer remission and then immediately resumed training.
On her Instagram Stories, Amy posted a photo from the Good Hope Oncology Ward in Birmingham, shortly after asking fans to be understanding following her and Thomas Skinner’s first dance performance.
She posted a photo of herself from the hospital ward with the message: ‘Here we go again – my monthly injection at the oncology unit, then right back to training! ‘
‘Week 2 and I can’t wait. Monday reminders, grateful, happy, alive and always be kind’.
This follows Amy’s touching plea for kindness, which she shared after news emerged that Thomas was receiving death threats and was being guarded by Tom Holland’s former bodyguard.
The businessman from Essex, known for being on Lord Sugar’s The Apprentice, has become the most talked-about contestant on Strictly this year. His time on the show has been dominated by his recent confession of infidelity to his wife, Sinead.
Thomas admitted to Katie Hind of the Daily Mail last week that the cheating scandal was ‘awful for my poor wife to read it all’ when he publicly acknowledged the affair.
Thomas tried to appear confident as he danced with Amy on Saturday night, even though his wife, Sinead, wasn’t there to join him or offer support.
The TV star, after performing the Paso Doble and earning 16 points from the judges, shared: ‘I was nervous at first, but Amy has been a wonderful teacher. She’s amazing.’
People on X had strong reactions to Thomas’ performance, with some calling it ‘the worst’. However, other fans thought he ‘did well’, especially given that the dance was ‘difficult’ for someone new to it like himself.
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2025-10-01 12:38