Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amy Dowden has said learning of her great-grandmother's death from breast cancer at the age of 39 has made her "appreciate the NHS even more" following her own surgery and recovery.
Dowden told Radio Times magazine that she became "very emotional" when talking about her family history on the BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are?.
As part of the program, she also delved into rumors of murder in the family and learned why her grandfather was given up for adoption despite having loving parents and siblings.
Dowden, who sent her parents daily updates while filming the show, said she expected "a lot of drama" but not such a "rollercoaster of emotions.".
During the programme, Dowden learned that Louise, her paternal great-grandmother, died in 1921 at the age of 39 from breast cancer, which she herself was diagnosed with in 2023.
A former Latin dance champion from Caerphilly was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of 32.
Dowden underwent chemotherapy and then two mastectomies, the most recent in November last year.
Her cancer treatment, as well as her experience living with Crohn's disease, which she was diagnosed with at 19, have been documented on the TV shows Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me and Strictly Amy: Crohn's And Me.
Dowden was visibly shocked when medical historian Dr Agnes Arnold-Forster told her about the cancer Louise had suffered from.
«"It reminded me of being diagnosed with cancer myself," she said.
«"Agnes told me that the cancer was incurable at the time, so Louise had to endure breast cancer without access to chemotherapy or any modern drugs.".
«"It made me appreciate the NHS even more.".
«"When I thought about Louise leaving behind her husband Bill and six young children, I became very emotional in front of the camera.".
«But I’m okay with it—during the treatment, the nurse advised me to have a good cry and not hold back my emotions.».
Dowden will return to Strictly Come Dancing this autumn [Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire]
One part of the family history that Dowden knew about but didn't fully understand concerned her great-grandfather's decision to give up his youngest child, Frank—her grandfather—for informal adoption.
Bill served in the Royal Navy during the First World War and hoped to return to work as a miner after the war ended.
However, in 1921 the coal mines were privatised and the new owners halved workers' wages, leaving many miners and their families dependent on soup kitchens.
Louise died during a fight in a coal mine, and their youngest son, Frank, was adopted by a family living nearby.
Dowden said: "Bill had one of the hardest jobs. He was a workaholic, like my father, but he couldn't feed all six children, so Frank—my father's father—was placed with a loving family who lived nearby.".
In the episode, Dowden also played detective and delved into the reasons why her great-aunt was shot to death in 1888.
«"Wales is in my blood"»
In her on-screen adventures, Dowden explored her Welsh roots, from Ceredigion to Carmarthenshire and New Tredegar.
«"We just kept moving further and further into Wales.".
«"I think it further reinforced my pride in being Welsh and confirmed that I am Welsh to the core.".
«"Part of me thought I might have some Mediterranean blood in me, but no. I have Wales in my blood.".
Dowden, who will return to Strictly Come Dancing this autumn, will celebrate her 10th anniversary on the show next year.
Although health issues forced the dancer to take time off from the popular BBC One show, she credits her time on Strictly Come Dancing and the dancing itself with saving her life.
«"It's more than just a show for me because it helped me get through my toughest days.".
«"A lot has happened to me in ten years. From being on the show to getting married [to fellow dancer Ben Jones], from being diagnosed with cancer to returning to the dance floor. Dancing has definitely been my salvation.".
Two years after the release of the documentary "Cancer and Me," she says she's ready to try something new and is interested in hosting more often.
«"During my illness, I lost the opportunity to dance, so now I'm trying to make the most of it, but I love interacting with people—I'm very talkative. I love people.".
«"I'd like to talk to people about their experiences, not about what I've been through.".
Who Do You Think You Are? airs on Tuesday, June 2 at 9:00 pm BST on BBC One and iPlayer.
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